Sabalenka rallies past Townsend to reach sixth straight US Open quarter-final

The Belarusian recovered from a difficult second set to secure a 10th straight victory over the American and extend her unbeaten run at Flushing Meadows to 18 matches.

Sabalenka fell 3-1 behind in the second set but responded by winning five consecutive games to close out the match.

The contest was marked by 10 breaks of serve as both players struggled to maintain their service games, but Sabalenka ultimately proved more consistent in the key moments.

The 28-year-old is the first woman to reach six consecutive US Open singles quarter-finals since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2016.

Sabalenka is also attempting to become the first player since Williams to win three consecutive US Open titles. Williams won the tournament three years in a row from 2012 to 2014.

Sabalenka's victory was more hard-fought than the scoreline suggested, with the American crowd largely behind Townsend throughout the match.

"I was just trying to stay focused on myself, not only point by point but ball by ball," she said afterwards.

"I'm happy I was able to turn around the second set, I think it was a key moment."

The four-time Grand Slam champion will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the quarter-finals, after she survived a marathon encounter with Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, eventually winning 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 after needing six match points to close out the contest.

"I am more than relieved - this match was so tough, emotionally a bit more than physically," said Noskova.

Elsewhere, Sorana Cirstea, who is set to retire at the end of the year, bowed out of Grand Slam tennis with a 6-3 6-4 defeat against American third seed Jessica Pegula.

"I just told her I don't know if you're still going to play next year, but you are playing great and I said I have a lot of respect for you," Pegula said when asked what she told Cirstea at the net."

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