Aryna Sabalenka grew visibly frustrated during a post-match press conference following her commanding second-round victory, cutting short a line of questioning about her off-court social activities and brand appearances at the tournament.
The two-time defending champion dismantled Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko with a dominant 6-1 6-1 performance in just 53 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, continuing her pursuit of an historic third consecutive US Open title.
The Belarusian world No 1, who had encountered similar questioning after her opening-round win against Colombia's Camila Osorio, pushed back firmly against the suggestion that her social media presence and event appearances were interfering with her tournament preparation.
When asked about her pre-tournament activities, Sabalenka responded with visible irritation:
You guys are, like, a joke. Parties, fun. Like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? What kind of question is that? Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I've been partying, not training? The question, like, what is that?
The reporter attempted to clarify their line of inquiry, suggesting they were referring to the volume of events and appearances rather than implying she was neglecting her training. Sabalenka interrupted sharply:
You literally said that. Next question.
As the reporter continued to explain their position, emphasising they were not suggesting she was attending parties, Sabalenka offered a curt acknowledgement before moving the exchange along.
Thanks, yeah.
The reporter persisted, noting that Sabalenka maintains a busy schedule of appearances and events. Her response was equally terse:
OK. Move on.
When subsequently asked whether she becomes more serious and combative once the tournament begins, Sabalenka delivered a pointed retort:
Oh, yeah, I wasn't serious before that. Next question. Think before you say stuff.
According to AP reporting, Sabalenka is pursuing the first three-peat at the US Open since Serena Williams achieved the feat from 2012 to 2014. Her demolition of Iatcenko underscored her dominance in New York, where she has now won 17 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows.
The world No 1 will face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round on Friday as she continues her bid to emulate the legendary achievements of Williams and Chris Evert, both of whom won three consecutive US Open titles.
Alcaraz powers through after slow start
Carlos Alcaraz's comeback from an extended wrist injury layoff gathered significant momentum as the defending champion recovered from a set down to overwhelm Portugal's Jaime Faria 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 and advance to the third round.
After dropping the opening set, Alcaraz seized control by winning eight consecutive games, establishing the dominance that carried him through the remainder of the match. The Spaniard, who is currently on a 16-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments, explained his mental approach to the turnaround.
After that I just tried to be focused, tried to stay calm and I'm thinking that good things are going to happen again.
According to AP's coverage of the tournament, both defending champions—Sabalenka in the women's draw and Alcaraz in the men's—have advanced smoothly through their opening matches, setting up potential deep runs in New York.
Buse makes family history with five-set epic
Peruvian 32nd seed Ignacio Buse authored a remarkable chapter in his family's US Open history by battling through a gruelling five-set encounter against American Marcos Giron, earning his maiden victory at the tournament and honouring his grandfather's legacy.
Buse's grandfather last won a match at the US Open in 1958, making the 32-year-old's 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-7(6) 6-1 triumph over Giron after three hours and 48 minutes on Court Six a deeply personal achievement. He sealed the victory with a backhand volley that drew loud cheers from his team and the crowd in attendance.
Reflecting on the mental demands of the marathon encounter, Buse spoke about his approach to the decisive fifth set:
It's difficult to find the calm in those situations, but in the fifth set, I just tried to recover mentally. It's a mental battle out there. I just stayed calm. It's a very special moment.
Tsitsipas and Tiafoe advance in contrasting fashion
Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a tightly contested battle against South Africa's Lloyd Harris, recovering from a set down to secure a 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory. The Greek player, who stunned 10th seed Arthur Fils in the opening round, will next face Czech 18th seed Jiri Lehecka in the third round.
American 11th seed Frances Tiafoe dispatched Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 7-5, keeping alive the United States' hopes of ending a 23-year drought for a home men's champion in New York. The last American man to win the US Open was Pete Sampras in 2002, making Tiafoe's continued presence in the draw significant for domestic tennis.
What comes next
Sabalenka's third-round clash with Rakhimova on Friday will be a crucial test as she continues her march toward the latter stages of the tournament. According to Al Jazeera's tournament schedule, the women's singles semifinals are scheduled for 2026-09-10, giving the defending champion a clear path through the draw if she maintains her current form.
The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from 30 August, with streaming available on NOW and the Sky Sports App. The tournament will also feature the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
