Osaka fashion

Aryna Sabalenka surged into the third round of the U.S. Open, defeating qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1, as Carlos Alcaraz, Jessica Pegula, and Daniil Medvedev also advanced. The results came on Wednesday, with several matches delayed due to rain. Sabalenka, the world number one, showcased her dominance, overpowering the 160th-ranked Russian in just 53 minutes. She recorded 24 winners and maintained a strong presence at the net, breaking Iatcenko once in the second set before sealing the win. Sabalenka will next face Kamilla Rakhimova in the round of 16. Alcaraz, the defending men’s champion, recovered from a shaky first set to defeat Portugal’s Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. The 23-year-old Spaniard, returning from a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury, attributed his early struggles to failing to convert a crucial break point. He will face Wu Yibing in the third round. Alcaraz, who has dropped just one set through four rounds, extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 18. He described his performance as satisfying, emphasizing his readiness to play his usual style. Pegula, the world number three, quickly dispatched Sofia Kenin, the former Australian Open champion now ranked 110th, in 56 minutes with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. She dropped only seven points on serve, demonstrating her consistency. Pegula will take on Leylah Fernandez, who defeated Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. Medvedev, the seventh seed, overcame wild card Sebastian Gorzny 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. Despite a brief distraction caused by two birds landing on the net, Medvedev remained composed, saving the sole break point he faced. He recorded 14 aces during the match. Ben Shelton, the eighth seed, edged out former world number six Hubert Hurkacz in a tight encounter, prevailing 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5. Shelton described the match as a battle to the end, acknowledging Hurkacz’s strong performance. Meanwhile, Frances Tiafoe, the 11th seed, continued his strong run, though Brandon Nakashima, the 16th seed, suffered an unexpected loss to Alex Michelsen, the 46th-ranked American, in straight sets. Rain disrupted play outside the main courts, affecting several matches. Alex de Minaur, the sixth seed, eventually secured his campaign with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Andrea Guerrieri after a delayed start. Lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete of China stunned 12th-seeded Rafael Nadal’s countryman Rafael Jodar with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory. Alcaraz, who reached the quarterfinals, spoke about his return to competition, noting that the U.S. Open had brought him back to his best form. He emphasized his commitment to playing aggressively and staying focused. Alcaraz will face Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals, setting up a potential clash between the two top seeds. Sabalenka, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction with her performance, highlighting her ability to maintain focus and composure. She will next challenge Linda Noskova, who required six match points to overcome Marta Kostyuk. Sabalenka acknowledged Noskova’s aggressive style and noted the need to stay low to counter her power. The U.S. Open has seen a surge in American representation, with 10 Americans advancing to the round of 16. This marks the highest number of American men and women in the fourth round at a Grand Slam in nearly 25 years. Among the standout performers is 20-year-old Brandon Nakashima, the youngest American man in the quarterfinals since Andy Roddick in 2002. Tiafoe and Michelsen are set to meet in the quarterfinals, ensuring an American man reaches the semifinals.