New York (AFP) – World number one Aryna Sabalenka led the way into the US Open quarter-finals, subduing American Taylor Townsend in straight sets on Sunday to keep her bid for a rare three-peat on track. Sabalenka rallied from 3-1 down in the second set for a 6-4, 6-3 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where men’s defending champion Carlos Alcaraz took on 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul in search of a quarter-final berth.
Sabalenka needed all of her resolve against the multi-faceted Townsend, whose blistering service returns and net prowess flummoxed the Belarusian star. The match opened with five breaks of serve before Sabalenka managed a comfortable hold for a 4-2 first-set lead. But eventually, Sabalenka’s sustained power and precision proved a little too much. Townsend broke Sabalenka as she served for the first set at 5-2, but by the time the American managed a hold for 5-4, it was too late, and Sabalenka held serve for just the second time to pocket the set, saving a break point before putting it away with a trademark forehand winner.
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“What an incredible player she is, approaching the net, what a great returner, moving well, very brave,” Sabalenka said after her first meeting with the fiery player from Chicago. “You can see how focused she was and it was really challenging playing her, especially here.”
The second set unfolded in more traditional style, neither player facing a break point through the first three games. It was Sabalenka who blinked first. Looking rattled after smacking a forehand into the net to give Townsend a break point, Sabalenka offered up a weak second serve that Townsend punished with a return winner for a break and a 3-1 lead. Sabalenka immediately broke back, however, launching a run of five straight games to take the match.
“I was like, OK, you’re down the break just try to return the serve and put as much pressure as you can on her,” Sabalenka said. “I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball and I’m happy that I was able to turn around that second set.”
The Belarusian, who must win to have a chance of retaining her number one status in New York, will face either sixth-seeded Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova of Czech Republic or 11th-seeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk for a place in the semi-finals.
In other women’s matches, third-ranked Jessica Pegula — one of the players with a chance to supplant Sabalenka atop the rankings in New York, takes on Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea, who is enjoying one of her best seasons in 2026 since announcing it would be her last.
Alcaraz, playing his first tournament since a wrist injury forced him to the sidelines in April, will look for continued improvement as he takes on a familiar opponent in Paul. The Spaniard, who completed a career Grand Slam with his seventh major title at the Australian Open in January, has won six of eight prior meetings with the American, including the last five.
Other men’s matches will see eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton taking on resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas, a two-time Grand Slam finalist who is through to the fourth round of a major for the first time in more than two years. Like Tsitsipas, seventh-seeded former champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia could expect a hostile welcome from the New York crowd when he faced charismatic American Frances Tiafoe on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
© 2024 AFP
