Rampant Azarenka downs compatriot Sabalenka to reach third round

Sep 3, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits the ball against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus on day four of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka put fellow Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka firmly in her place with an 6-1 6-3 victory in the second round of the U.S. Open on Thursday, further cementing her status as a dangerous floater in the women's draw.

The unseeded former world number one whipped through the contest against fifth seed Sabalenka on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court in little more than an hour to set up a third-round date with Sachia Vickery or Iga Swiatek.