The 21-year-old qualifier Clara Burel has reached the third round of the US Open for the first time in her young career. She will be up against the experienced Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of the US Open.
The Frenchwoman did not progress beyond the first round at any of the three major events earlier this year. The former junior World No. 1 didn’t have some great performances coming into the tournament.
She won three qualifying matches against Seone Mendez, Arianne Hartono, and Misaki Doi to progress to the main draw of the US Open competition. In the first round, she defeated Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in straight sets. In the second round, she took on the experienced Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck and defeated her 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
The World No. 6 reached the Libema Open final and the Stuttgart Open final. However, a title has eluded her this season. Sabalenka came into the tournament on the back of an impressive Cincinnati Masters campaign, where she lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Caroline Garcia.
In her first match at the US Open, Sabalenka outplayed Catherine Harrison to win in straight sets 6-1, 6-3. The Belarusian followed up with a hard-fought win against the 37-year-old Kaia Kanepi after dropping the first set.
Clara Burel and Aryna Sabalenka have not met before. The head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka to win in straight sets.
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