US Open 2026 results: Aryna Sabalenka continues title defence with one of the quickest Grand Slam wins of her career
Aryna Sabalenka secured a swift second-round victory at the 2026 US Open, defeating Polina Iatcenko in just 53 minutes. Despite her dominant performance, the world number one engaged in a tense exchange with a reporter regarding rumors about her preparation and lifestyle.
Why it matters
As a top-ranked athlete aiming for a rare three-peat, Sabalenka's performance and public interactions are closely monitored by the sports media and fans.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Aryna Sabalenka is bidding to become only the third woman to win three successive US Open titles, following Chris Evert (1975-78) and Serena Williams (2012-2014)
BBC Sport tennis news reporter Published 3 September 2026, 03:21 BST Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka earned one of the quickest Grand Slam wins of her career with a 53-minute pummelling of US Open debutant Polina Iatcenko in the second round.
However, the world number one did not look entirely happy even as she swept aside Iatcenko - then had a spiky exchange with a reporter in her post-match news conference.
Sabalenka took umbrage with what she perceived to be a suggestion from a reporter that she had been attending "lots of parties" in the build-up to the US Open.
Also covering this story
5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Aryna Sabalenka powers her way into third round of U.S. Open in just 53 minutes
Sabalenka races into US Open third round
'You guys are like a joke': Sabalenka blasts reporter on 'party' talk in tense presser
Aryna Sabalenka blows up at reporter in fiery US Open scene: ‘A joke’ - New York Post
US Open: Carlos Alcaraz planning more breaks in 'impossible' tennis schedule after more than four months out with a wrist injury
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in