Top-seed Ashleigh Barty has progressed to the third round of the 2021 US Open with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Clara Tauson of Denmark.
The in-form Australian overpowered her 18-year-old opponent in the first set but faced a far tougher battle in the second.
Tauson showed glimpses of her fighting spirit in her opening service game of the match, saving nine break points before Barty finally secured the break.
Barty broke once more in the opening set but encountered service issues of her own in the second, surrendering two breaks in tightly contested set.
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The world No.1 ultimately had too much firepower for Tauson and converted three more of the 19 break points she earned during the second-round encounter to safely progress in an hour and 30 minutes.
Barty will play American veteran Shelby Rogers or unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the Round of 32.
If she continues her winning run at Flushing Meadows, Barty will not face another seeded player until at least the quarterfinals.
