Sabalenka wins latest-starting match in US Open history that finally begins after midnight
Aryna Sabalenka finally got rolling after a bad beginning to the latest-starting match in U.S. Open history and beat No. 29 Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the fourth round
NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka finally got rolling after a bad beginning to the latest-starting match in U.S. Open history, regrouping to beat No. 29 Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 early Saturday to reach the fourth round.
The No. 2 seed didn't get underway until 12:07 a.m. and had dropped the first set barely a half-hour later. But she seized control early in the second set, winning 10 straight games to open a 5-0 lead in the third.
The runner-up last year in Flushing Meadows eventually finished off the victory at 1:48, tied for the second-latest ending to a women's match at the U.S. Open, and advanced to face No. 33 seed Elise Mertens on Sunday.
“I was happy that I was able to stay focused, no matter what, and I was able to turn around this match,” Sabalenka said.
