Two-time defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka beats Taylor Townsend to reach the quarterfinals

Aryna Sabalenka faced a hostile-looking challenge in the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, then calmly removed it. The world No. 1 defeated American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 to reach the US Open quarterfinals and continue her defense of the title.

Townsend briefly threatened to change the match in the second set, moving ahead 3-1. Sabalenka responded before the atmosphere could turn fully against her, keeping her composure and closing out another demanding test.

The victory extended Sabalenka's Flushing Meadows winning streak to 17 matches. It also secured her 17th Grand Slam quarterfinal, including her sixth at the US Open. To remain atop the WTA rankings, she must win the tournament for a third consecutive year and hope Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina is eliminated before the semifinals.

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Townsend is an incredible player. She was very focused, and it was especially challenging to face her here.

Townsend, ranked 96th and close to falling outside the top 100, had hoped to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. The 30-year-old left-hander has a reputation for rising on major stages, especially in New York, where she had reached the fourth round three times and recorded two of her three wins over top-10 players.

“Townsend is an incredible player. She was very focused, and it was especially challenging to face her here,” Sabalenka said. She also thanked the spectators for respecting her despite her being the non-American player. “I knew they were going to support her, but I didn't know they would be so respectful toward me.” Sabalenka will next face either Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Linda Noskova or 11th seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine. Townsend also drew attention before the match with a black hooded outfit, part of the bolder fashion often seen at the US Open.

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I knew they were going to support her, but I didn't know they would be so respectful toward me.