Aryna Sabalenka remains firm in her defense of the world number one. The Belarusian beat the American Taylor Townsend this Sunday in two sets and advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open, where she will have a demanding duel against the Czech Linda Noskova, current Wimbledon champion.
The WTA number one won 6-4 and 6-3 over Townsend, number 46 in the individual ranking, in a match in which she had to withstand the pressure of a stand completely overturned with the local tennis player.
Sabalenka started erratically, especially with her serve. The first five games of the match ended with a break, in a start marked by constant changes of dominance.
Townsend, second in the world in doubles, made the Belarusian uncomfortable with her ability to return blows and her ability at the net. However, Sabalenka managed to gradually impose her power and experience.
In the second set she was down 3-1, but reacted in time to prevent Arthur Ashe Stadium from becoming an even bigger party for the charismatic American.
“I love games like this, they are quite a challenge. Going through difficult situations and overcoming them gives you strength and a great conviction that you can achieve it,” said Sabalenka, who also highlighted the behavior of the public.
“I knew they were going to be on their side, but not that they were going to be so respectful to me,” the Belarusian acknowledged.
Townsend, for his part, regretted not having been able to take advantage of the opportunities he had against the top favorite. “With someone like Aryna, who is at that level, you have to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way,” he said.
Sabalenka, who has not yet given up a single set in the tournament, maintains the first place in the world ranking for now, although she has several players on the lookout, especially the Kazakh Elena Rybakina.
To finish the US Open again as number one, Sabalenka needs to win the title and for Rybakina to be eliminated before the semifinals.
The Belarusian, however, assures that she does not want to be distracted by the ranking accounts. “I am completely distancing myself from that, because it is nothing more than conjecture,” he explained.
Noskova, a champion on the road
The next obstacle for Sabalenka will be Linda Noskova, who reached the US Open quarterfinals for the first time after surviving a dramatic match against the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.
The Czech, sixth in the world, won 7-5, 5-7 and 6-4 after wasting five match points. On the sixth opportunity he managed to close the match and put an end to the resistance of Kostyuk, who had strong support from the stands.
Noskova arrives at this event with Sabalenka becoming one of the great protagonists of the circuit. Just two months ago he defeated Kostyuk in the Wimbledon semifinals and later won the first Grand Slam of his career in London.
Now she will face the world number one, who seeks to keep her path to a new title in New York intact and, in the process, retain the WTA throne.
