The Belarusian defeated the Canadian Leylah Fernandes 6-3, 7-6(2), who defeated Sabalenka in straight sets in the 2021 US Open semi-final in their only previous meeting. If Sabalenka does manage a consecutive US Open title, she will become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to achieve back-to-back titles in New York.

Sabalenka overcame some early jitters on the Louis Armstrong Stadium, surviving a marathon opening game that featured three break points before finding her rhythm. She then broke Fernandez’s serve in the fourth game of the opening set when her opponent double-faulted on a break point.

The second set was a far more competitive affair, with both players trading holds until the tiebreak.  But it proved a step too far for the Canadian, who was bulldozed 6-1 in the tiebreak before the Belarusian sealed it with a forehand winner.

‘I really wanted this revenge’

After the match, Sabalenka said, “I really wanted this revenge. I'm very happy with the win. It was a tough lesson for me back then. Since then, we never played again. I just wanted to prove to myself that the lesson was learned and that I developed as a player and, yeah, I could get this win.”

In a lighter moment, the Belarusian received a marriage proposal from a love-struck fan during the match.

She will face Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in the fourth round, who had to work hard to win against the Belgian 19th seed Elise Mertens (3-6, 7-,5 6-3).  This is the first time the 28-year-old Bucsa has reached the fourth round of a major.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg