The U.S. Open moves into its round of 16 on Sunday, and the tournament’s headline matchups feature both global stars and hometown heroes. Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) will meet American rising talent Taylor Townsend at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, while men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) will take on fellow American Tommy Paul at the same venue.
Sabalenka’s Dominant Run Meets Townsend’s First‑Grand‑Slam Test
Sabalenka entered the third round with a flawless record, dropping no sets and delivering a powerful serve that produced ten aces in a straight‑sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova. The four‑time Grand Slam winner, who is chasing a historic hat‑trick of U.S. Open titles, joked about the lingering smell of cannabis in the stadium, saying, “If they’re going to keep smoking, I might get high.” Despite the humor, her focus remains sharp.
Townsend, a 28‑year‑old American, is eager to break through to the quarter‑finals of a Grand Slam for the first time. She told reporters, “I think this is the most free that I’ve ever been on the court… it’s my time, I’m ready to take it, I’m ready to go.” The matchup pits Sabalenka’s power against Townsend’s aggressive baseline play, offering U.S. fans a compelling narrative of experience versus youthful ambition.
Alcaraz vs. Paul: A Familiar Rivalry Returns
On the men’s side, Alcaraz, the world number three, has a winning record against Paul in their last five meetings, though the Spaniard has never found the contest easy. Paul forced Alcaraz into tiebreaks six times in eight previous encounters, underscoring the competitive nature of their rivalry.
Alcaraz described his opponent as “really dangerous for everyone on the tour” and noted the difficulty of dominating the ball against Paul’s varied shot‑making. Paul, a former Australian Open semi‑finalist, came into the match after a gritty victory over Alexander Bublik, the player who eliminated him from the U.S. Open last year. “I think I played Carlos more than anybody on tour, which is kind of crazy… I’m going to do my best,” Paul said.
Ben Shelton’s Challenge Against Stefanos Tsitsipas
American eighth seed Ben Shelton, the highest‑ranked U.S. man in the draw, will face Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who defeated Shelton in 2023. Shelton’s path to this round has been rocky; he dropped a set in each of his first three matches and was forced into tiebreaks four times. In a rain‑interrupted third‑round win over Denis Shapovalov, Shelton made 54 unforced errors but managed to pull through.
Reflecting on his performance, the 23‑year‑old said, “Not an easy night. Nowhere near my best. Yeah, I got through it.” He remains optimistic about the upcoming match, noting Tsitsipas’s adaptable style: “I think he’s playing great. I think that his style of tennis can be very, very effective on all surfaces… really looking forward to it.”
Schedule for Sunday’s Action
All three marquee matches will be played at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the following start times (GMT/ET):
• 15:30 / 11:30 ET – Sabalenka vs. Townsend
• 20:00 / 16:00 ET – Tommy Paul vs. Alcaraz
• 20:00 / 16:00 ET – Ben Shelton vs. Tsitsipas
Additional U.S. Open action includes matches featuring Anna Kalinskaya, Emma Navarro, Marta Kostyuk, Linda Noskova, Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe, Jessica Pegula and Sorana Cirstea. The tournament continues to showcase a blend of international stars and American talent, offering fans across the nation a chance to rally behind homegrown players while enjoying world‑class tennis.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
