Aryna Sabalenka Domaniting the US Open. Image-SABC.
(The Post News)- Aryna Sabalenka powered Flushing Meadows, continuing her dominant run and leaving no doubt that she’s the player to beat in New York.
Sabalenka , the defending champion delivered a commanding performance in the fourth round, overpowering unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. Sabalenka, who has looked sharp throughout the tournament, dictated play from the outset, using her aggressive groundstrokes and powerful serve to keep Bucsa on the back foot. With this victory, Sabalenka has booked her place in the quarterfinals and remains firmly in contention to lift the trophy once again.
In contrast, ninth seed Elena Rybakina saw her US Open campaign come to an abrupt end. Despite her strong showing at the Cincinnati Open last month, where she reached the semifinals, the Kazakhstani was unable to get past a determined Marketa Vondrousova.
The Czech left-hander, who won Wimbledon in 2023, battled through a tough three-set encounter to defeat Rybakina 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Vondrousova showcased her signature variety and shot-making, particularly in the final set, as she took control of the match and sealed her spot in the last eight. Her ability to absorb Rybakina’s power and turn defense into offense proved crucial.
Meanwhile, American doubles specialist Taylor Townsend’s remarkable singles run has come to an end. The 29-year-old thrilled home fans with her earlier performances but was unable to sustain her momentum against two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Despite a strong start that saw her take the first set 6-1, Townsend struggled to maintain consistency as the match wore on. Krejcikova, who entered the tournament unseeded, fought back with poise and precision, winning a tense second set in a tiebreak before completing the comeback with a 6-3 final set. With this hard-fought win, the Czech star has advanced to the quarterfinals, keeping alive her hopes of another deep run at a major.
On the men’s side, 38-year-old Novak Djokovic delivered a vintage performance to reach the US Open quarterfinals in commanding fashion. The former world number one showed why he remains a formidable force in Grand Slam tennis, dismantling German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets.
Djokovic needed just one hour and 49 minutes to dispatch his opponent, cruising to a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win. From the start, the Serb controlled the tempo, served efficiently, and returned with relentless precision, leaving Struff with few opportunities to mount a challenge. Chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam singles title, Djokovic continues to defy age and expectations with his elite-level play.
Looking ahead, Djokovic will face American fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals—a matchup that promises to be one of the highlights of the next round. Fritz advanced with a convincing straight-sets victory over Czech player Tomas Machac in the fourth round, underlining his status as the top American hope at this year’s tournament. With both players in strong form, their upcoming clash is set to be a high-stakes battle for a place in the semifinals.
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