The US Open
US Open 2026 Women’s Day 8
Aryna Sabalenka broke Taylor Townsend seven times in a roller-coaster win to send the top seed into the quarter-finals of the US Open for a sixth consecutive edition on Sunday.
The world No. 1 is fighting to hold onto her top WTA ranking and needs to continue fending off Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff at the last Grand Slam of the season.
Sabalenka completed her fourth straight-sets victory so far here with a 6-4, 6-3 win in 75 minutes over her American opponent for her 18th straight match win at the venue.
The match was entirely unpredictable in the opening stages, with two-time defending champion Sabalenka finally pulling her game together in the fifth game of the second set as she broke the 96th-ranked Townsend to love after dropping her own serve the game before.
Sabalenka capitalised by sweeping the net four games to escape into the quarter-finals despite her inconsistent start on her second match point in her concluding break of the American.
“I love matches like that, because it was really challenging, going through tough challenges and overcoming those challenges,” the winner said.
“It definitely gives you strength and a really strong belief that you can do it. These kinds of matches are really, really, really like a boost of confidence.”
The top seed with four trophies at the majors is aiming to become the first player to win three consecutive titles here since Serena Williams 2012-2014.
“She was returning really well. She saw where I’m going. She was blocking really well. I guess playing doubles and mixed doubles really helped her to react on, like, heavy serve.
“It’s been a while since I played with the roof closed, so I feel like we both were struggling a little bit to see the ball.
“It was a really challenging beginning, and I had to adjust my serve, the speed, the spin, bring the variety into my service games just so I keep her guessing. It was a tricky start of the match, for sure.
“I’m just focusing on myself. I’m just trying to bring my best tennis every time I’m competing out there and basically fight for it.”
Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova fought off a challenge from two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Marta Kostyuk, requiring six match points over two sets to move through to the last eight here and a match with Sabalenka.
The Czech looked in control leading a set and 5-3 before Ukrainian Kostyuk saved a pair of match points in the 10th game of the second set and made a match of it in the third before Noskova regained late control to move through.
“It was such a tight battle, a tough match, she’s a hell of a competitor.match,” Noskova said of Kostyuk.
“I knew it would be tough from beginning to end.
“The match points were nerve-wracking. I could have played some of them differently but that is history now.”
Noskova will be competing in her first New York quarter-final when she takes on Sabalenka, who beat her in the Indian Wells semi-finals in March.
“I need to recover, get prepared and look for some solutions.”
Unlike the rowdy US Open in New York, the home of Tennis etiquette The All England Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, have no immediate plans to follow suit.
In an attempt to entice the TikTok generation to “come feel the atmosphere” and no doubt invest in expensive cocktails at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where it costs US$23 for the traditional Honey Deuce cocktail and the “new kid on the block” a “Moet Serve” in a “three tennis ball can” a snip at US$32 for just 3 1/2 ounces of bubbly.
For the 2026 tournament the US Open Management accredited 100 influencers, double the number of actual news photographers, who frequently disturbed players, and genuine tennis fans with their ringlights and rowdy behaviour during live play.
After several unacceptable disruptions at the US Open, Coco Gauff said that whilst it was important to welcome a “new demographic” to the sport but “I think, just, follow the etiquette of the sport. That’s all.”
Interestingly the US Tournament has been headed up since July 2026 by Craig Tiley, former CEO of the Australian Open which was criticised by many including Aussie player Jordan Thompson as the “wokest tournament ever” in 2024 following the introduction of freedom of movement for spectatorsat any time, rather than waiting until the regulation change of ends and also the addition of a public “Party Court” bar overlooking Court 6 with a roster of DJ’s pumping out loud music during live play.
However, Richard Atkinson, interim chief executive at the AELTC, told BBC Sport “Wimbledon does not offer accreditation to influencers and that is unlikely to change in the near future.
He also backed the traditional “self-policing” ethos at SW19, whereby fans respect the action.
He jokingly added that the Royal Marine commandos, who along with other serving members of the Army, Navy and Air Force provide security and spectator support during Wimbledon would like “nothing more than to sort out” disruptive social media influencers at the prestigious tournament”
Main photo:- “Influencers” influencing the action during Naomi Osaka match at US Open
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
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