Belarusian players off to good start at US Open

Belarus’ world number 32 Aliaksandra Sasnovich solved Italy’s world number 99 Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-2, 6-4 to pass first hurdle in New York, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian will next face world number 8 Jessica Pegula of the United States. Belarus’ world number 26 Victoria Azarenka toppled world number 244 Ashlyn Krueger of the United States, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, in the first round. The Belarusian will next take on Ukraine’s world number 65 Marta Kostyuk.

World number 6 Aryna Sabalenka swept into the US Open second round seeing off world number 243 Catherine Harrison of the United States, 6-1, 6-3. Next the Belarusian will play world number 34 Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.

Belarus’ world number 73 Ilya Ivashka overcame world number 287 Sam Querrey of the United States in a four-set thriller, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8), 6-3. He will next play Poland’s world number 10 Hubert Hurkacz.

The U.S. Open is set to have a record-setting total prize of $60 million. Winners in the men’s and women’s singles events will earn $2.6 million each, finalists - $1.3 million. The final Grand Slam event of the year will be over on 11 September.