Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina has powered into the third round of the US Open with a 6-4 6-4 win against Russian Evgeniya Rodina.
The 22-year-old, who had also reached the third round at Flushing Meadows in the previous two years, was barely troubled by her 89th-ranked opponent in a sun-kissed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Svitolina lost focus in the second set at 5-2 when she allowed Rodina to pull a break back, but she held her following service game to wrap up the victory on the first match point with a backhand winner.
She next faces either American Shelby Rogers or Australian 25th seed Daria Gavrilova.
Frenh Open champion and 12th seed Jelena Ostapenko beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-4 while there were also straight-sets wins for Kaia Kanepi and Jennifer Brady.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka prevailed in a tight clash against Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic 6-3 4-6 7-5.