The victory was his 44th of 2026 and 38th at the US Open, more than any player has won at the event since his main draw debut in 2018. He is 23-1 in his last 24 starts in New York. It took her to her 17th Grand Slam quarter-final and made it three wins to become the first woman to win three consecutive US Open titles since Serena Williams from 2012-2014.
It also keeps a narrower race alive. he must win the tournament to regain the No. 1 ranking, which he has held since October 21, 2024, a run that will reach 99 consecutive weeks before the end of this fortnight.
Servant collapse
The first set was a service collapse from both sides. Seven of his ten games against serve. Sabalenka broke Townsend in the opening game, which went to four deuces, was broken down the back straight and the exchange was repeated until she finally held for 15 for 4-2. He held twice in five service games and Townsend once in five, and the explanation lay in one stat line: Sabalenka dropped eight points on her second serve, Townsend nine. Neither player could defend the ball, which he had to hit twice.
Townsend, a left-hander ranked No. 96 in singles and No. 2 in doubles, broke in the second set and chased the world No. 1 back. Sabalenka recovered it and won the set 6-3.
“I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not just point-by-point but ball-by-ball,” he said on court afterward. “I’m happy that I was able to turn the second set around.”
Townsend was playing for her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal, her 35th major, twelve years after losing to Serena Williams as a wild card on her debut. She had beaten 20th seed Maia Chwalinska in the first round and 15th seed Diana Schneider in the third to arrive in New York without a Grand Slam win all season after first-round exits in Melbourne, Paris and London.
She is now 0-3 against world No. 1s, and before this, Williams in 2014 and Simona Halep at Roland Garros in 2018 both won the tournament.
Sabalenka. “It was a great test.”
Sabalenka’s first words were about her opponent. “My God, what an incredible player he is,” he said. “Coming to the net, what a great returner, moves well, very brave. You could see how focused he was and it was really hard to play him.”
His second was about a crowd that had spent the afternoon watching its own. “I have to say thank you for being so respectful,” she said. “Obviously you’re going to be there for him, but I didn’t expect you to be so respectful of me.”
“It was a great test,” Sabalenka said. He was broken three times in the first set alone and still won in straight sets.
US Open 2026, women’s fourth round
A. Sabalenka (1) vs T. Townsend: 6-4, 6-3
M. Kostyuk (11) vs L. Noskova (6) – Sunday, Louis Armstrong Stadium
J. Pegula (3) vs S. Cirstea (16) – Sunday, Louis Armstrong Stadium, no earlier than 15:00
A. Kalinskaya (21) vs E. Navarro (26) – Sunday, Arthur Ashe Stadium, 19:00
M. Andreeva (5) vs A. Potapova (24) – scheduled for Monday
I. Jovic (14) vs C. Gauff (4) – scheduled for Monday
I. Swiatek (8) vs Q. Zheng (Q) – scheduled for Monday
N. Osaka (13) vs E. Rybakina (2) – scheduled for Monday