Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open by defeating Taylor Townsend on Sunday, September 6, in the round of 16. The match, played on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, was a tense and competitive encounter with 10 breaks of serve. Sabalenka, a top-ranked Belarusian player, won the match in two sets, 6-4, 6-3, extending her winning streak at the tournament to 18 matches and maintaining her three-year unbeaten run after consecutive victories in 2024 and 2025. Sabalenka, 28, is the first woman to reach six consecutive singles quarterfinals at the US Open since Serena Williams in 2016. The Belarusian is now just three wins away from matching Williams’ achievement of winning three US Open titles in a row. The match was described as challenging, with Sabalenka needing to display resilience, especially as she faced a crowd that was largely against her. Sabalenka acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating she focused on staying composed point by point and ball by ball. She emphasized that turning the second set in her favor was a pivotal moment in her victory. Townsend, known more for her doubles success, wore a distinctive long, black-feathered outfit and frustrated Sabalenka throughout the match. However, Sabalenka responded by breaking back to love, signaling the start of her push to victory. Sabalenka lost only five points across the final five games, ending Townsend's challenge in 75 minutes. She praised Townsend for her skills, including her net approach, return game, and focus. Sabalenka also thanked the crowd for their respect and noted that they were sometimes cheering for her, which she appreciated. Sabalenka, who has consistently reached the semi-finals at the US Open since 2020, is aiming to avoid a first season without a major title since 2022. She recently exited in the fourth round at Wimbledon, adding urgency to her performance at the US Open.