Sabalenka's simple, power game carries her at the US Open

NEW YORK—Sometimes not thinking too much is the best strategy when it comes to winning a tennis match. It certainly works for Aryna Sabalenka.

The 20-year-old is into the third round of the US Open in her debut. She needed three sets to take out American Danielle Collins and then beat veteran Vera Zvonereva in straight sets on Thursday.

"I just thought about hit the ball as hard as you can into the court and don't care about anything else," Sabalenka said. "I just go for it. Everything was going in so I was happy with that."

Balls have been going in for the Belarusian a lot this summer. She got a huge win over Caroline Wozniacki in Montreal, and then scored wins over Caroline Garcia, Karolina Pliskova and Madison Keys to reach the Cincinnati final. She followed that up with her first career WTA title in New Haven.

"This is unbelievable for me," she said. "I'm really in shock right now because it was such a great summer for me. I'm so happy right now with this level which I'm showing on the court."

Right after her 6-3, 7-6 (7) win over Zvonareva, on another hot day in Queens, Sabalenka hit the practice court for a tune-up. It's something you hear mostly the top players doing.

"I had some mistakes in the second set on which I have to work on, that's why we go [practice]," Sabalenka said. "There's always some things you have to work on. [My] mistakes sometimes are really crazy so we have to work on them."

Her game balances on her huge shots just barely going in, so it makes sense that extra work goes a long way. She'll get to go for more big winners on Saturday against Petra Kvitova. The Czech will know what to expect. In their only previous meeting in Miami, the world No. 5 won in three sets.

"Definitely she's on fire right now and in great form," Kvitova said. "Overall, I think that we are playing a little bit similar game. I'm going to try to be the one who put the pressure on her and not she will put pressure on me."

They'll be on Louis Armstrong Stadium, which marks the first big stage in New York for Sabalenka.

"I enjoy to play on the big courts against really good players," Sabalenka said. "It's something special for me. I'm waiting for that match."

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