Aryna Sabalenka defeats Taylor Townsend in straight sets to reach US Open quarter-finals

Progress on Arthur Ashe

Aryna Sabalenka reached the quarter-finals of the US Open on Sunday, defeating American left-hander Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 28-year-old top seed navigated a volatile first meeting between the two players, competing before a crowd supporting the American. The match featured between 10 and 11 service breaks across 19 total games. Townsend broke Sabalenka three times in the Belarusian's first four service games. Sabalenka dropped serve four times during the contest, but secured the opening set before turning around a 1-3 deficit in the second set by winning five consecutive games to finish the match.

I was just trying to stay focused on myself, not only point by point but ball by ball. I'm happy I was able to turn around the second set, I think it was a key moment.

Streak and tournament milestones

The victory extends Sabalenka's winning streak to 18 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows, following back-to-back title runs in 2024 and 2025. Sabalenka has not dropped a single set through four rounds of the 2026 tournament. With this win, she became the first woman to reach six consecutive US Open singles quarter-finals since Serena Williams achieved the run in 2016. Six-time tournament champion Williams was also the last player to win three consecutive US Open women's singles titles, a milestone Sabalenka is now three match victories away from matching.

Four-way battle for the top ranking

Sabalenka entered New York attempting to regain form after failing to reach a tournament final since winning back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami in March. In the opening half of the season, she won 26 of her first 27 matches, with her only defeat coming in the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka has spent 99 weeks at world No 1, but her ranking is contested in a four-way race. Rybakina currently sits at No 1 in the live rankings, while Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are also within striking distance in the draw. Sabalenka must win a third straight title at Flushing Meadows, while Rybakina must lose before the semi-finals, for Sabalenka to reach 100 weeks in the top spot.

I completely separate myself from that, because it's just guessing. It's like 'if, if, if, if'. I feel like for me, I'm just focusing on myself. I'm just trying to bring my best tennis every time I'm competing out there and basically fight for it.

Quarter-final matchup with Noskova

In the quarter-finals, Sabalenka will play Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. The Czech player advanced on Sunday after defeating Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 in a repeat of their Wimbledon semi-final. Kostyuk resisted five match points during the contest, fending off two at the end of the second set and three in the decider before Noskova closed out the victory. Through four rounds in New York, Sabalenka's only opponent ranked inside the top 90 had been world No 59 Camila Osorio in the opening round.