Aryna Sabalenka turned in a thrilling performance in the third round of the 2024 US Open early Saturday morning. She survived a nightmare start before defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova. The late-night competition marked the latest starting time ever in the history of the event.
A Dramatic Start
The Sabalenka-Alexandrova battle started on the main court of Arthur Ashe Stadium at the unthinkable hour of 12:08 a.m. As the fatigue piled on and the match wore into the early hours, it seemed yet another upset might be brewing. An already shocked crowd by upsets throughout the day, the struggles of Sabalenka to stay in rhythm raised some eyebrows.
Anything but smooth was Aryna Sabalenka’s first set; she made 14 unforced errors to Alexandrova’s seven. Highly competitive, the match saw Alexandrova make the most of Sabalenka’s mishaps. Trailing 3-2 in the first set, Alexandrova dug out an important break point with a thunderous ace to turn things around. This set was the first that Alexandrova had taken off Aryna Sabalenka since their last meeting in 2022.
Turning The Tide
The second set introduced a new Aryna Sabalenka. Now her game was cleansed of errors, as she played with much precision. Early games were exchanged with Sabalenka soon into her rhythm. She broke Alexandrova’s serve and hit two aces to show just how potent her serve and aggressive play now had become. The momentum shift proved to be critical, and Sabalenka went on to win the second set 6-1, thereby leveling the match.
By the third set, Aryna Sabalenka was in full control. The Belarusian dominated the set as she went up 5-0 before Alexandrova could barely get on the board. The heavy serves and placement by Aryna Sabalenka were what Alexandrova could not keep pace with or respond to. Sabalenka closed out the final set 6-2.
Words From Sabalenka
But the Belarusian reflected after the match that she was relieved and pleased with her victory: “I was just trying to stay as low as possible,” she said. “I was just trying to put as many balls as I could back on that side because she played incredible tennis in the first set, and it was really tough to change it. I’m really happy that I was able to turn around this match and get this really difficult win.”
Fans were on the edge of their seats as Sabalenka worked her way through the match. This was a highly memorable late-night drama, and the fans present were salivating at how both players would deal with such extended play. Aryna Sabalenka’s victory was celebrated as the major moment of her journey throughout this tournament.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Form
This victory has shown that Sabalenka is in good form and can handle pressure. The fact that she lost the first set and then came back strongly also attests to the fact that she is one heck of a competitor. Her form, as she advances further in the tournament, will be closely watched by both fans and analysts alike.
As Sabalenka attempts to keep her level high and make a deep run at the 2024 US Open, all eyes will indeed fall on her. The fact that she could manage such a great fightback and deliver under pressure makes her one of the must-watch players over the coming rounds.
Sabalenka’s win against Alexandrova was one of finesse, determination, and resilience. It finally sealed her position as one of the strong contenders for the title this year and proved that tennis lovers were in for a treat in the next match.
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