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Aryna Sabalenka exacted sweet revenge on Friday, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 7-6(2) to advance to the U.S. Open fourth round.
The victory erased memories of her painful 2021 semi-final loss to Fernandez, their only previous meeting.
“I really wanted this revenge,” Sabalenka said after the match. “I’m very happy with the win.”
Fernandez threatened early, earning multiple break points in the opening game, but Sabalenka held firm and broke the Canadian in the fourth game after a costly double fault.
From there, the Belarusian never looked back, saving the only other break point she faced with a searing service winner.
The second set proved tighter, both players holding serve until the tiebreak, where Sabalenka raced to a 6-1 lead and sealed victory with a forehand winner, improving her season tiebreak record to 20-1.
“In tiebreaks, there’s no time for doubts. I just go for my shots, stay aggressive, and keep the pressure on,” she said.
The win keeps her perfect third-round record at the U.S. Open intact at 6-0 and moves her four wins away from matching Serena Williams’ back-to-back titles over a decade ago.
Sabalenka praised Fernandez’s effort, “She’s a tough opponent. She’s improving. She played incredible tennis today. Just a few points made the difference.”
Reflecting on her 2021 loss, Sabalenka added, “It was a tough lesson. I wanted to prove I’ve developed as a player and could get this win.”
A lighter moment came when a fan proposed marriage mid-match.
“It’s the first time someone proposed during my match,” Sabalenka said, laughing. “It was sweet, but I had to stay focused. And no, I don’t want this kind of proposal.”
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