New York, Aug. 30 -- Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka said her formidable tie-break record comes down to "trust" in her game as she beat Canada's Leylah Fernandez to reach theUS Open last 16.
Top seed Sabalenka secured a 6-2 7-6 (7-2) victory over 2021 runner-up Fernandez in Friday's night session at Flushing Meadows.
The 27-year-old Belarusian continues her quest to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to achieve back-to-back titles in New York. Success in the second set against Fernandez was Sabalenka's 18th consecutive winning tie-break.
"When I get to the tie-break I know that there is no time for doubts and I just have to go for my shots," Sabalenka said. "I'm just reminding myself that I have to trust my game. I h...