Sabalenka and Alcaraz reach US Open quarter-finals as fourth round concludes
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame Taylor Townsend in straight sets, while Carlos Alcaraz beat Tommy Paul to reach the US Open quarter-finals in New York.
Sabalenka advances to sixth consecutive quarter-final
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka reached the US Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-3 victory over American world number 96 Taylor Townsend on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The contest featured numerous service breaks (10 according to BBC, and 11 across 19 games according to RTE and The Irish Times). Townsend broke Sabalenka three times in her first four service games and established a 3-1 lead in the second set. Sabalenka responded by winning five consecutive games to finish the match without dropping a set in the tournament. The victory marked Sabalenka's 18th consecutive match win at Flushing Meadows, extending an unbeaten run across three tournaments that includes championships in 2024 and 2025. Sabalenka is also the first woman to reach six consecutive singles quarter-finals in New York since Serena Williams in 2016.
It was really challenging, and going through tough challenges and overcoming those challenges, it definitely gives you strength and really strong belief that you can do it.
Noskova sets up quarter-final clash
Sabalenka next faces sixth seed Linda Noskova in the quarter-finals. The Czech player, who won Wimbledon earlier in the season, advanced with a 7-5 5-7 6-4 win over 11th seed Marta Kostyuk. Kostyuk saved five match points (two at the end of the second set and three in the third) before Noskova closed out the match on her sixth match point with an unreturnable serve. The result gives Noskova her deepest run at Flushing Meadows. The tournament also continues a four-way battle for the world number one ranking between Sabalenka, live ranking leader Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff. Sabalenka has held the top ranking for 99 weeks, but she needs to win a third consecutive US Open title while Rybakina loses before the semi-finals to reach 100 weeks.
- Aryna Sabalenka defeats Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-3
- Linda Noskova defeats Marta Kostyuk 7-5 5-7 6-4 on sixth match point
- Carlos Alcaraz defeats Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 6-4
- Ben Shelton and Stefanos Tsitsipas contest Arthur Ashe Stadium night session
Alcaraz defeats Paul in men's singles
In the men's fourth round, second seed Carlos Alcaraz defeated American 20th seed Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The seven-time Grand Slam champion entered New York after nearly five months out with a right wrist injury. Alcaraz extended his Grand Slam match-winning streak to 18 matches with the victory. Paul challenged the Spaniard early, firing a 100 mph forehand winner around the net in the third game, but Alcaraz protected his serve before striking late to take the opening set. The 23-year-old Spaniard then built a 2-0 lead in the second set and traded breaks before closing out the match to improve his record against American players at Grand Slam tournaments to 13-0.
American fourth-round representation
Five American men reached the fourth round in the singles draw, the highest total for the country at the US Open since 1995. Sunday's schedule placed four of them in action across the grounds. Paul took on Alcaraz, while Alex Michelsen faced Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry on the Grandstand court. Frances Tiafoe was paired against 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, and eighth seed Ben Shelton was set to open the Arthur Ashe Stadium night session against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. In women's fourth-round action, third seed Jessica Pegula faced Sorana Cirstea at Louis Armstrong Stadium, while Emma Navarro played Anna Kalinskaya in the final night match on Ashe.
