US Open WTA Day Two Round-Up | Aryna Sabalenka takes streak to 15 as Swiatek and Osaka storm through

Day two at the US Open brought another busy slate of women's first-round action, with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Linda Noskova among the biggest names to move safely into the second round. Sabalenka extended her remarkable Flushing Meadows winning streak against a stubborn Camila Osorio, while Swiatek produced a controlled straight-sets victory over Xiyu Wang.

There was also a comeback for Qinwen Zheng, who recovered from dropping the opening set to defeat 16-year-old Kristina Liutova, while Amanda Anisimova began her bid to go one step further than last year's runner-up finish with an emphatic win. Noskova, meanwhile, overturned a 5-2 deficit against Katie Volynets before accelerating away in the second set.

Zheng had to work her way into the tournament after a difficult opening set against Liutova, with the 16-year-old showing little fear against the former Olympic champion. The first set was dominated by breaks rather than holds, with Zheng losing her serve twice and Liutova three times. The teenager eventually held to close out the set after 52 minutes and put Zheng under immediate pressure.

The match settled down considerably in the second set. Zheng protected her serve far better and faced just one break point, which she saved, before taking her first opportunity against Liutova to move ahead and level the match. With the contest back on serve, the difference in experience became increasingly apparent.

Zheng then produced her best tennis in the decider. She quickly established a double break and raced to a 4-0 lead before managing the advantage through the finish. The victory marks four consecutive US Open main-draw wins for Zheng after she came through qualifying, and also represents a return to winning ways at a Grand Slam. She is currently projected at No. 101 in the live rankings, leaving her one step away from returning to the Top 100.

Sabalenka did not have everything her own way against Osorio, but the two-time defending champion eventually found the authority needed to get through a determined challenge. The Colombian repeatedly tried to push the Belarusian back from the baseline, but Sabalenka's heavier hitting continued to create opportunities on return.

The opening set ultimately slipped away from Osorio after Sabalenka turned her pressure into three consecutive breaks. Despite not being at her sharpest on serve, the world No. 1 repeatedly found ways to make the Colombian play difficult points and closed out the set 6-2.

Osorio made the second set considerably more competitive. She stayed level through the first eight games and appeared capable of extending the contest, but Sabalenka's experience in these conditions proved decisive. The Belarusian converted her first break point of the set at 4-4 and then served out the match to complete the 6-2, 6-4 victory. Sabalenka has now won 15 consecutive matches at the US Open, continuing a remarkable run at a tournament where she has established herself as one of the most difficult players to stop.

Anisimova began her latest US Open campaign with a performance that served as an immediate reminder of why she remains a dangerous player at Flushing Meadows. The world No. 10, who reached the final last year, was in control for much of her opening-round clash with Krueger and needed just two sets to advance.

The match briefly opened with the players exchanging breaks, but Anisimova quickly took command. She won five games in a row to turn the first set into a one-sided affair, while converting two of her three break opportunities. Krueger struggled to withstand the American's pace from the baseline as Anisimova repeatedly took the initiative.

The second set brought more resistance, but Anisimova showed another important part of her game: her ability to survive pressure. She saved 10 of 11 break points across the match and, after creating separation with two consecutive breaks, held firm whenever Krueger threatened to fight her way back.

There is still plenty for Anisimova to improve if she is to reproduce last year's run and go further, but the composure she showed on the biggest points was particularly encouraging. A 6-1, 6-3 victory gives the finalist an efficient start to another potentially deep run in New York.

Noskova appeared to be in serious trouble early against Volynets, with the American taking a 5-2 lead and looking well positioned to take control of the opening set. The Czech had struggled to find her rhythm and was giving Volynets opportunities, but the momentum changed dramatically as the set entered its final stages.

Noskova suddenly found greater consistency and confidence, winning five consecutive games to overturn the deficit and steal the opening set 7-5. That turnaround completely changed the match. The 2026 Wimbledon champion carried the momentum straight into the second set and won another five games in a row, taking her streak to 10 consecutive games.

Volynets eventually managed to get on the board in the second set, but there was no sustained comeback. Noskova won 20 of the first 24 points in the set and eventually closed out the 6-4? No — the Czech completed a 7-5, 6-1 victory without allowing her opponent another opening.

Despite producing 28 winners and 33 unforced errors, Noskova's ability to recover from her erratic start was the defining feature of the match. She also produced 10 double faults alongside nine aces, underlining the volatility of her performance, but the victory nevertheless moves her to a career-best No. 6 in the live rankings.

Swiatek never needed to reach top gear against Wang, but that was partly because the Pole did such a good job of keeping the match on her terms. Wang tried to make the rallies uncomfortable by taking the ball early and looking to challenge Swiatek from the baseline, but the former world No. 1 consistently absorbed the pressure and waited for her opponent to overplay.

The opening set began with Wang attempting to stay aggressive, but Swiatek gradually turned that approach against her. The Pole found three breaks from nine opportunities and, once she established a lead, gave Wang very little encouragement to believe a comeback was possible. Her own serve was particularly reliable, with Swiatek winning 80% of her first-serve points and not facing a single break point throughout the match.

The second set followed a similar pattern. Wang continued searching for openings, but the harder she tried to force the issue, the more errors appeared. She finished with 30 unforced errors, while Swiatek remained remarkably steady from the back of the court and did not need to manufacture the volume of winners that normally accompanies her most dominant performances.

That control allowed Swiatek to close out the 6-2, 6-3 victory without facing a serious scare. It was not a performance built around spectacular shot-making, but rather one in which she dictated the rhythm, protected her serve and consistently made Wang play one extra ball. She now moves into the second round against Argentina's Nadia Podoroska.

Naomi Osaka survived a tricky US Open opener against Anastasia Zakharova, defeating the Russian in two tight sets. The Japanese star made the first breakthrough in the opener and built a comfortable advantage, but Zakharova refused to let the set go quietly. After recovering the break when Osaka was serving for it, the Russian forced a tiebreak, where Osaka eventually held her nerve to take the lead.

The second set brought another series of momentum swings. Osaka struck first and appeared to be moving toward a straightforward finish, but Zakharova immediately fought back. The two-time champion regained control and moved to within one game of victory, only for the Russian to break her serve once again and then move in front.

Osaka responded by forcing another tiebreak, giving herself one final opportunity to avoid a deciding set. This time, she made no mistake, closing out the breaker to complete the straight-sets victory after a much more demanding contest than the scoreline might initially suggest.