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"Even though I didn't play my best tennis I was
fighting for every point," said Sabalenka, who arrived in New
York in terrific form after winning in Cincinnati.
"She played really aggressive, great tennis today. It wasn't
easy facing her in the first round."
With the New York crowd on her side, the twice Australian Open
winner used her lethal forehand to break Australian Hon in the
opening game and converted on another chance to close out the
first set.
After trading breaks, Sabalenka converted an opportunity with a
backhand winner in the sixth game of the second set.
Hon had upped her level across the board, producing only one
unforced error in the second set, but could not match
Sabalenka's firepower as she failed to convert on any of the
five break point chances she had in the seventh game.
Sabalenka, who took time off this season to address injury
issues, closed out the affair with a pair of forehand winners,
pumping her fist in subdued celebration.
"I took everything I could from that little pause," said
Sabalenka. "Hopefully it's going to play well for me."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter
Rutherford) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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