Aryna Sabalenka hammers Taylor Townsend, emulates Serena with US Open quarters berth
Aryna Sabalenka continued her remarkable dominance at the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals for a sixth consecutive year after beating American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday. With the win, the Belarusian became the first player since Serena Williams (2011-2016) to reach six consecutive women’s singles quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
The world No.1, who is chasing a third straight US Open title, had to negotiate a spirited challenge from Townsend before eventually pulling away in straight sets. The victory extended Sabalenka’s winning streak at the tournament to 17 matches and further strengthened her extraordinary record in New York.
Sabalenka has now won 23 of her last 24 matches at the US Open, with her only defeat during that stretch coming in the 2023 final against Coco Gauff. She also registered her 44th victory of the 2026 season, underlining the remarkable consistency that has made her the player to beat in New York.
SABALENKA WINS BATTLE OF BREAKS
The opening set was an unusually chaotic affair, with the first five games producing successive breaks of serve.
Sabalenka struck first, but Townsend immediately responded to level at 1-1. The Belarusian then broke again, only for Townsend to hit back once more. Sabalenka regained the advantage at 3-2 before finally holding serve for the first time to move 4-2 ahead.
The top seed appeared to be taking control when another break gave her a 5-2 lead. Townsend, however, refused to surrender, breaking back and then holding serve to reduce the deficit to 5-4.
Sabalenka held her nerve when serving for the set, producing a forehand winner to seal the opener 6-4 after 43 minutes.
SABALENKA STEADIES HERSELF IN SECOND SET
The second set initially followed a more conventional pattern, with both players holding serve in the opening two games. Townsend then produced another surge, breaking Sabalenka to move 3-1 ahead.
The defending champion’s response was immediate. She earned the break back when Townsend double-faulted, levelling the set at 3-3.
From there, Sabalenka began to impose her authority. Another break, helped by a Townsend backhand error, put her 4-3 ahead. She continued to apply pressure and eventually secured the match 6-3 with a backhand winner.
Sabalenka’s quarterfinal opponent will be the winner of the fourth-round clash between 11th seed Marta Kostyuk and sixth seed Linda Noskova. Both players had reached the last 16, with Noskova entering the contest as the higher-ranked player.
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