{
  "id": 5210678,
  "title": "Sabalenka storms into US Open third round as Pegula, Medvedev advance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/sabalenka-storms-into-us-open-third-round-as-pegula-medvedev-advance",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T00:37:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/racquet-sports/2026/09/1524658/sabalenka-storms-us-open-third-round-pegula-medvedev-advance"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New York - Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round of the US Open, defeating qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes. The Belarusian star, ranked world number one, showcased her power and accuracy from the baseline, dropping only four points on serve. She will face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova for a spot in the round of 16.\n\nDefending champion Carlos Alcaraz was set to join Sabalenka in the third round as he beat Portugal's Jaime Faria in straight sets. The Spanish player, who won his seventh major title at the Australian Open in January, overcame a wrist injury that sidelined him for four months. He will face 72nd-ranked Jaime Faria in the third round.\n\nWorld number three Jessica Pegula and top seed Daniil Medvedev also advanced to the third round. Pegula defeated former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1, while Medvedev swept past wild card Sebastian Gorzny 6-1, 6-3, 7-5. Medvedev, who struggled during the hard court season leading up to the US Open, saved a crucial break point against Gorzny in the final set.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK: Aryna Sabalenka took the next step on the road to a rare US Open three-peat, routing qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 to join a raft of contenders cruising into the third round on Wednesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Ruthless Muchova routs Boulter to reach US Open third round",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/ruthless-muchova-routs-boulter-to-reach-us-open-third-round",
        "published": "2026-09-02T21:01:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Third-ranked Pegula, Medvedev power into US Open third round",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/third-ranked-pegula-medvedev-power-into-us-open-third-round",
        "published": "2026-09-02T22:16:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Pegula and Shelton into third round at a rainy US Open, where some players are still stuck in first",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/pegula-and-shelton-into-third-round-at-a-rainy-us-open-where-some",
        "published": "2026-09-03T00:07:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Sabalenka storms into US Open third round as Pegula, Medvedev advance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/sabalenka-storms-into-us-open-third-round-as-pegula-medvedev-advance-5218338",
        "published": "2026-09-03T01:25:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}