Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the US Open quarterfinals on Sunday, overcoming an erratic first-set serving collapse and unseeded American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 in New York. The victory keeps her pursuit of a third straight Flushing Meadows title alive.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka navigated a bizarre and fiercely contested fourth-round match to defeat unseeded American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 in New York on Sunday. The win marked Sabalenka’s 44th victory of 2026 and her 38th at the tournament, more than any player has won at this event since her main draw debut in 2018. In her last 24 matches in New York she is 23-1. The match began with five consecutive breaks of serve before Sabalenka managed an easy hold to take a 4-2 lead in the opening set.
Serving Instability and the Opening Set Battle
The afternoon encounter began with a chaotic display of service breaks. Seven of the opening set’s ten games went against serve, driven largely by excellent returning by both players. Sabalenka broke Townsend in an opening game that reached four deuces, was broken straight back, and the exchange repeated itself until she finally held to 15 for 4-2. Sabalenka held twice in five service games and Townsend once in five, with statistics showing Sabalenka won one point of eight behind her second serve, and Townsend one of nine, as neither player could defend a ball she had to hit twice.
Doubles specialist Townsend, who walked out wearing a long, black-feathered outfit, continued to frustrate Sabalenka and forced her to serve out the set at the second opportunity, before making the breakthrough in the second set. At 5-2, Sabalenka failed to serve for the set as the 30-year-old Townsend, ranked World No. 2 in doubles, continued to be aggressive with her returns and showed her net prowess. With Sabalenka serving at 5-4, Townsend had a break point but saved it before grabbing the opener with a trademark forehand winner. In the second set, Townsend continued to press and forced Sabalenka to come from a break down. But Sabalenka, aware she must lift the trophy to have a chance of retaining her number one ranking, produced an immediate reply as she broke back to love. That signalled the start of Sabalenka’s dash to the finish line, as the top seed lost just five points across the final five games to end Townsend’s challenge in 75 minutes.
Básicamente, solo estaba tratando de mantenerme concentrada en mí misma y jugar no solo punto por punto, sino bola por bola. Me alegra haber sido capaz de revertir la situación en ese segundo set,
expresó Sabalenka.
Stakes in the Rankings and Historical Context
Sabalenka’s progression keeps her narrow bid for the WTA No. 1 ranking alive. Having occupied the top spot since October 21, 2024—a run reaching 99 consecutive weeks by the end of the fortnight—she must win the tournament to have any chance of holding the ranking.
The victory advanced Sabalenka to her 17th Grand Slam quarterfinal, leaving her three wins from becoming the first woman to take three consecutive US Open titles since Serena Williams in 2012-2014. The 28-year-old Sabalenka is looking to become only the third woman after Chris Evert (1975-78) and Serena Williams (2012-14) to win three titles on the trot at Flushing Meadows in the Open Era.
Praise for Townsend and What Lies Ahead
Following the match, Sabalenka offered high praise for her opponent’s tactical approach and net prowess.
“What an incredible player she is, approaching the net, a great returner, moving well, very brave. You can see how focused she was. It was really challenging playing her, especially here. Thank you so much [to the crowd] for being so respectful to me. I knew coming into this match that you guys would be on her side, but you were sometimes cheering for me and I really appreciate it.”
Aryna Sabalenka
I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but like ball by ball,
Sabalenka added, explaining her mindset after going down a break against the popular American. I’m happy that I was able to turn around that second set.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Belarusian will face either reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova or Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk for a place in the semifinals, seeking to continue her run at the 2026 US Open.
