The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes to reach the US Open 2026 third round.
- At the post-match press conference, she reacted sharply when a reporter asked about her pre-tournament 'parties and fun', cutting the question short.
- She insisted that her social media posts were brand promotions, not partying, and said she had been training.
- Sabalenka also said she is no longer trying to make everything perfect on court, while declining to explain mid-season difficulties she acknowledged facing.
What to watch next
- How Sabalenka performs in the third round as she defends her title
- Whether her brand-promotion explanation settles the social media questions
- More details on the mid-season difficulties she declined to explain
Coverage1
1 report
Indian-language1
All filed from India
Named United States · Polina Iatcenko · Aryna Sabalenka · The Tennis Letter
The 1 report is listed beside the record.
Ask this story
Answers cite the reports above, or say they can't.