Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka overcame early service struggles to defeat American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday at the U.S. Open, securing her sixth consecutive quarterfinal appearance at Flushing Meadows and extending her tournament winning streak to 17 matches.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Taylor Townsend at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Aryna Sabalenka fought through an unusually erratic fourth-round encounter on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at the iconic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, defeating American left-hander Taylor Townsend to book her spot in the quarterfinals. The world No. 1 and two-time defending champion needed straight sets to quell a spirited challenge from her opponent, closing out the match 6-4, 6-3 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The victory keeps Sabalenka in control of her world No. 1 ranking, though she faces a narrow path to retain it. Sabalenka has spent 99 weeks at the top of the rankings, but she needs to win a third straight Flushing Meadows title—and for current No. 2 Elena Rybakina to lose before the semi-finals—if she is to reach a century. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are also within striking distance in a four-way battle for the No. 1 spot.
It's super challenging but once again it's important to focus on yourself,
said Sabalenka, who had to come from a break down in the second set against popular American Townsend.
I was like 'okay, you are down the break, just try to return the serve and put as much pressure on her as possible',
Sabalenka added.
A Chaotic First Set Marked by Successive Breaks
The opening set proved to be an unusually chaotic affair, with the first five games producing successive breaks of serve. Townsend broke Sabalenka three times in the two-time defending champion’s first four service games as she looked to spring the upset. Sabalenka was the first player to successfully hold her serve after no less than 6 games to lead 4-2. Townsend, ranked No. 96 in singles, refused to fold in this first career meeting between the two players on the WTA Tour.
The 28-year-old Belarusian then took a double break to lead 5-2, before losing her service on a game point and seeing Townsend come back to 5-4, 30-40.
Turmoil in the Second Set and Net Battles
Townsend carried her momentum into the second frame by breaking Sabalenka first to lead 3-1. Sabalenka then won five games in a row to compose her ticket for the quarterfinals.
Basically, I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball,
Sabalenka said. I’m happy that I was able to turn it around in that second set.
This was the first meeting between Sabalenka and Townsend, who gave her opponent fits in the first set but struggled to find her own rhythm. Sabalenka noted after the match: I’m happy to be through this really tough opponent. What an incredible player she is approaching the net. What a great returner: moving well, very brave. You could see how focused she was. It was really challenging playing her.
Historical Parallels and Next Opponents
With this straight-sets victory, Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals for a sixth consecutive year after beating American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday. With the win, the Belarusian became the first player since Serena Williams (2011-2016) to reach six consecutive women’s singles quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka has now won 23 of her last 24 matches at the US Open, with her only defeat during that stretch coming in the 2023 final against Coco Gauff. She also registered her 44th victory of the 2026 season.
Townsend (30 years old), who achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 1 in July, departs New York after the match. Sabalenka next faces either Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova or Marta Kostyuk for a spot in the semifinals.
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