Top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 in the third round of the 2026 US Open at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, advancing to the fourth round for the fifth consecutive year.
Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, saved three set points in the second-set tiebreak to secure a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory in 1 hour and 52 minutes at Flushing Meadows. In their first encounter, Rakhimova showed some promise, despite the match initially looking like a one-sided affair after Swiatek quickly jumped to a 4-0 lead, losing just three points.
The win will help Ankita, 28, enter the top 100 of the WTA rankings in doubles with the live rankings currently showing her in the 94th position. She won ITF doubles titles and WTA 125k series title before Friday's win.
