Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the
US Open quarter-finals after overcoming American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 in a
hard-fought fourth-round clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sabalenka was forced to dig deep against the versatile
Townsend, whose aggressive service returns and strong net play repeatedly
troubled the Belarusian.
The opening set featured five breaks of serve before
Sabalenka eventually established control with a comfortable hold to take a 4-2
lead.
Townsend fought back and broke Sabalenka while she was
serving for the set at 5-2, reducing the deficit to 5-4. However, Sabalenka
held her nerve in the next game, saving a break point before sealing the set
with a powerful forehand winner.
The second set initially followed a more conventional
pattern, with neither player facing a break point during the opening three
games.
Townsend then struck first, capitalising on a
break-point opportunity after Sabalenka sent a forehand into the net. The
American punished a weak second serve with a return winner to break for a 3-1
advantage.
Sabalenka responded immediately, breaking back before
producing a decisive five-game run to close out the match in straight sets.
“I was like, OK, you’re down the break, just try to
return the serve and put as much pressure as you can on her,” Sabalenka said
after the match.
“I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play
not only point by point but ball by ball, and I’m happy that I was able to turn
around that second set.”
Sabalenka also praised Townsend for the challenge she
presented.
“What an incredible player she is, approaching the
net, what a great returner, moving well, very brave,” she said. “You can see
how focused she was and it was really challenging playing her, especially
here.”
The victory keeps Sabalenka’s hopes of retaining the
world No. 1 ranking alive. She will face either sixth-seeded Wimbledon champion
Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic or 11th-seeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in
the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, third-ranked Jessica Pegula was set to face
Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea, who is enjoying one of the strongest seasons
of her career in what she has announced will be her final year on tour.
In the men’s draw, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz
was scheduled to face 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul as he continued his
comeback from a wrist injury that sidelined him in April.
Alcaraz, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning
his seventh major title at the Australian Open in January, has won six of his
previous eight meetings with Paul, including their last five encounters.
Other fourth-round matches included eighth-seeded
American Ben Shelton against Stefanos Tsitsipas, while former US Open champion
Daniil Medvedev faced home favourite Frances Tiafoe at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
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