Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has secured her place in a sixth straight US Open quarter-final, emulating Serena Williams' achievement from 2016. The Belarusian, 28, overcame American Taylor Townsend with a 6-4 6-3 victory in a match that featured 10 breaks of serve.
Sabalenka's win extends her unbeaten streak at the tournament to 18 consecutive matches, following her back-to-back triumphs in 2024 and 2025. She recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the second set to seal the match with five consecutive games.
The top seed is now three wins away from matching Serena Williams' feat of three consecutive US Open titles. Sabalenka will next face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, who secured her semi-final spot after a hard-fought 7-5 5-7 6-4 win against Marta Kostyuk.