**NEW YORK** — World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is off to a strong start at the US Open, securing a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon in the first round. The runner-up from last year, Sabalenka remains undefeated in first-round matches at the US Open, with a record of 7-0.
After defending her Australian Open title in January, Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman to win both hard-court Grand Slam titles in the same season since Angelique Kerber in 2016. She has reached the semifinals or better in her last three appearances in New York.
Sabalenka will next face Italy's Lucia Bronzetti, who advanced to the second round after New Zealand's Lulu Sun was forced to retire following a 6-3 loss in the first set. Sun struggled with a quick turnaround after finishing as runner-up in the Monterrey final just the previous Sunday....
**No. 203 Priscilla Hon** entered the match looking for her first tour-level main-draw victory of the season. The Australian made her Grand Slam main draw debut since the 2022 Australian Open after qualifying with wins over Akosha Urhobo, Daria Snigur, and top-seed Kamilla Rakhimova.
Hon played a steady and controlled match from the baseline but struggled to break through against a confident and in-form Sabalenka. The World No. 2, who recently claimed her 15th Hologic WTA Tour title at the Cincinnati Open, dominated the opening set without facing a single break point.
In the second set, Sabalenka secured an early break before Hon managed to convert her first break point to level the score at 3-2. Despite this, Sabalenka remained unshaken, earning a fourth break of Hon’s serve with a series of clean return winners to lead 4-2. She maintained her advantage and clinched her 40th win of the season. Sabalenka has now won her last 12 sets.
Sabalenka finished with 27 winners and 16 unforced errors, while Hon recorded 12 winners and 8 unforced errors but was unable to capitalize on 5 of 6 break point opportunities in the second set.
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