'What Kind of Question Is That?' - Sabalenka Spiky After Ruthless Win

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.

"What kind of question is that? Just because I posted some activities with brands, you think that I've been partying [and] not training?" countered Sabalenka.

Asked if she was "getting serious" now the tournament was under way, she said: "Oh yeah, I wasn't serious before that. Next question."

Sabalenka, 28, is aiming to win her first major title of a strange season where she has enjoyed spectacular success but is now looking to recover from a recent dip.

Coasting to a 6-1 6-1 victory over 22-year-old qualifier Iatcenko did not offer a true test of where Sabalenka's level is.

But the ruthless manner in which she secured victory will certainly boost confidence as she looks to complete a rare 'three-peat' of US Open titles.

"I'm happy with the level I played, happy with the focus and happy to be through this match," said Sabalenka, who will play Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round.

- Author: Jonathan Jurejko, BBC

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