Sabalenka advances to US Open quarters

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Sunday, defeating American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 to keep her bid for a third consecutive title alive. The Belarusian, who is the No. 1 seed, secured her spot in the last eight at Flushing Meadows despite early challenges from Townsend. The match began with a series of service breaks, with Townsend breaking Sabalenka three times in the opening games. Sabalenka, however, managed to regain her composure and find her rhythm. After trading breaks early in the first set, Sabalenka secured a crucial break in the seventh game and held serve to take a 5-4 lead. She then closed out the set on her serve, saving a break point before finishing with a forehand winner. In the second set, Townsend again started strongly, breaking Sabalenka's serve to take a 3-1 lead. However, Sabalenka immediately broke back and then won five consecutive games to clinch the match. Sabalenka acknowledged the difficulty of facing Townsend, describing her as an "incredible player" with strong net play and returning skills. Sabalenka's victory marks her sixth consecutive appearance in the U.S.