Sabalenka reaches U.S. Open quarterfinals

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Sunday, September 6, 2026, defeating American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3. The victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium kept Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, on track in her bid for a third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows. The match was marked by numerous service breaks, with Townsend breaking Sabalenka three times in the initial games of the first set. Sabalenka eventually found her rhythm, securing a crucial break in the seventh game and holding serve to take a 5-4 lead. She closed out the set on her serve, saving a break point. In the second set, Townsend again started strongly, breaking Sabalenka 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 win marks her sixth consecutive appearance in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, a feat not achieved by any player since Serena Williams between 2011 and 2016. She is aiming to become the third woman in the Open Era to win three consecutive U.S.