Sabalenka marches on, but tougher tests are coming

Aryna Sabalenka has moved into the US Open round of 16 without surrendering control, but the path to a third straight title could become considerably harder from here.

The top seed and world No. 1 beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 in the third round. Rakhimova, ranked 92nd, was born in Russia but has represented Uzbekistan since the end of 2025. Sabalenka took control immediately, breaking in the opening game and holding comfortably throughout the first set. She did not miss a first serve until the seventh game.

The Belarusian needed 35 minutes to take the opening set. The second was tighter, with both players holding serve until Sabalenka found the decisive break in the ninth game. She then served out the match in the following game.

Sabalenka must win the tournament to retain the top ranking, and even that will not be enough on its own. Elena Rybakina must also fail to reach the semifinals. Sabalenka's next opponent will be the winner of the match between American Taylor Townsend and Russia's Diana Shnaider.

Shnaider would bring a recent reminder of the danger ahead. She eliminated Sabalenka in the French Open quarterfinals in early June, winning the deciding set 6-0. Ukraine's 11th seed Marta Kostyuk and Romania's 16th seed Sorana Cirstea also progressed. Kostyuk beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-2, while Cirstea defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3.