Daria Gavrilova has suffered another premature US Open exit, the Australian no match for former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka.

Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion on the comeback trail after winning a long battle to secure custody of her toddler son, outclassed Gavrilova 6-1 6-2 in their second-round encounter on Wednesday.

Unseeded for the first time at Flushing Meadows since 2007, Azarenka had all the answers for Gavrilova, marching on in one hour and 22 minutes.

The Belarusian could meet defending champion Sloane Stephens next, with the third-seeded American up against Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina later on day three.

Ranked too low to earn a direct entry, Azarenka needed a wildcard to contest the Open for the first time since 2015.

But the two-time finalist has suddenly emerged as a serious threat to the big guns after cruising into the last 32 without looking like dropping a set.

“I’m really happy with my level. I managed to stay consistent after a couple of months of many ups and downs,” Azarenka said.

“This year’s been an extremely hard year for me personally. I kind of jumped in when I wasn’t quite ready.

“I’m definitely going to be much better prepared for next season.

“(But) the motivation is different, of course, I’m a mum off the court and I have big responsibilities to be the best mum I can be.

“But I’m still a tennis palyer and I still have my own personal goals and I feel that this can work together.”