Aryna Sabalenka produced a commanding performance to reach the third round of the US Open, while Jessica Pegula and Daniil Medvedev also moved comfortably through their second-round matches in New York.

World number one Sabalenka needed just 53 minutes to overpower 160th-ranked Russian qualifier Iatcenko.

The Belarusian struck 24 winners and controlled the match with aggressive baseline hitting as well as effective play at the net.

Sabalenka dropped only four points on serve in the opening set.

She was broken once in the second set, allowing Iatcenko to claim her only game of the set, but Sabalenka immediately responded by winning the next three games to complete the victory.

Afterwards, Sabalenka said she was pleased with both her level and concentration.

She will next face Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova for a place in the round of 16.

Jessica Pegula was equally efficient in her second-round match.

The world number three defeated former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1 in only 56 minutes.

Pegula dropped just seven points on serve throughout the match and maintained control from start to finish.

The 2024 US Open runner-up will next meet Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

Fernandez advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev also progressed in straight sets.

The seventh seed defeated American wild card Sebastian Gorzny 6-1, 6-3, 7-5.

Medvedev struck 14 aces and saved the only break point he faced during the match.

One unusual moment came when two small birds landed on the net at Louis Armstrong Stadium, forcing a point to be replayed.

Medvedev said he had expected the point to be stopped earlier and was unhappy that play was halted only after he had hit what appeared to be a winner.

Elsewhere, eighth seed Ben Shelton came through a difficult contest against former world number six Hubert Hurkacz.

Shelton won 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 after a closely fought match.

The American described the contest as a battle until the end and praised Hurkacz’s performance.

There was disappointment, however, for another American contender.

Sixteenth seed Brandon Nakashima was eliminated by compatriot Alex Michelsen, who won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Rain once again caused interruptions outside the main covered stadiums.

Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur finally began his campaign after his opening match had been postponed from Tuesday.

Despite another rain delay during the contest, de Minaur defeated Italy’s Andrea Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

Chinese lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete also produced one of the notable upsets of the round.

He defeated 12th-seeded Spaniard Rafael Jodar 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.

The results came as the tournament continued to take shape, with several leading contenders advancing comfortably while others were forced into more demanding battles.