Sabalenka through to US Open quarterfinals

Published On 6 Sep 20266 Sep 2026.

Key points

• Townsend broke Sabalenka three times in the two-time defending champion's first four service games as she looked to spring the upset.
• "Basically, I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball, " Sabalenka remarked.
• This was the first session between Sabalenka and Townsend.
• "I'm happy to be through this really tough opponent, " Sabalenka remarked.

Solving some early struggles to hold serve, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka overpowered Taylor Townsend on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals of tennis's US Open in New York City in the United States.

Townsend broke Sabalenka three times in the two-time defending champion's first four service games as she looked to spring the upset. Sabalenka discovered a groove, regained her confidence and won 6-4, 6-3.

"Basically, I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball, " Sabalenka remarked. "I'm happy that I was able to turn it around in that second set."

This was the first session between Sabalenka and Townsend. This person provided her opponent fits in the first set but struggled to find her own rhythm. Sabalenka next faces either Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova or Marta Kostyuk for a spot in the semifinals.

"I'm happy to be through this really tough opponent, " Sabalenka remarked. "What an incredible player she is, approaching the net. What a great returner: moving well, particularly brave. You could see how focused she was. It was really challenging playing her."

For now, sabalenka through to US Open quarterfinals remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.