Aryna Sabalenka defeated Taylor Townsend to reach the US Open quarterfinals

Aryna Sabalenka, the tournament’s top seed, reached the US Open quarterfinals after defeating American Taylor Townsend, the crowd favorite, 6-4, 6-3. The fourth-round match lasted one hour and 15 minutes.

Sabalenka recovered from a deficit in the second set and maintained control until the end. The victory extends her winning streak in New York to 17 matches and gives her a 17th Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance. Six of those quarterfinal berths have come at the US Open.

The Belarusian player is seeking her third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows. To retain the world No. 1 ranking, Sabalenka must win in New York, while Elena Rybakina must be eliminated before the semifinals.

At the end of the match, Sabalenka spoke about the pressure of the battle for the world No. 1 position. She said it is difficult, both mentally and physically, to maintain her level and not focus on the rankings, emphasizing that her priority is to improve her own performances.