New York (Reuters) – Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka showed why she is the sport’s top‑ranked player when she beat American hopeful Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to move into the U.S. Open quarterfinals. The Belarusian, who entered the tournament as the world number one, had endured a rocky build‑up to the final major of the year, but she found her rhythm on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
Key moments of the match
Sabalenka opened the match aggressively, trading two breaks each with Townsend in the first four games. She seized a crucial break in the seventh game with a forehand winner, only to see Townsend answer back with a break of her own to love. The defending champion held steady, saving a break point with an unreturnable serve before closing the first set in the tenth game.
In the second set, Townsend briefly surged ahead, taking a 3-1 lead by neutralizing Sabalenka’s powerful serve. A double fault from the Belarusian handed the break back to Townsend, but Sabalenka responded with a surge of confidence, breaking again and then sprinting through the final four games to seal the set and the match.
What Sabalenka said
“What an incredible player she is approaching the net, what a great returner,” Sabalenka praised Townsend after the match. “Very brave, you can see how focused she was. It was really challenging playing her, especially here.”
Looking ahead
Sabalenka’s next opponent will be determined in the upcoming round. She will face either Ukraine’s 11th seed Marta Kostyuk or Czech Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, both of whom have shown strong form in the tournament.
The victory adds another impressive win to Sabalenka’s résumé this season and underscores her dominance on the biggest stages. For Townsend, the loss is a learning experience as she continues to develop her game against the sport’s elite.
U.S. Open context
The U.S. Open, one of tennis’s four Grand Slam events, draws the world’s best players to New York’s iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more high‑stakes matchups and potential upsets as the field narrows toward the finals.
Both Sabalenka and Townsend will look to build on their performances as the tournament moves into its later stages, offering American fans more exciting tennis and the chance to see a home‑grown player advance deep into a Grand Slam.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
