Aryna Sabalenka Cruises Into US Open Fourth Round, Addresses

Aryna Sabalenka is rolling through her US Open title defence. The world No. 1 and two-time defending champion powered into the fourth round on Friday, September 4, 2026, with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Kamilla Rakhimova. Her campaign for a historic three-peat remains firmly on track.

How dominant has Sabalenka's US Open run been?

Sabalenka has been in ruthless form. She opened her title defence on Wednesday, August 3, with a crushing 6-1, 6-1 victory over qualifier Polina Iatcenko in just 53 minutes. Against Rakhimova, she fired 29 winners and, critically, did not face a single break point. Her serve has been a major weapon, winning 71% of first-serve points for the tournament so far. This win extends her unbeaten streak at Flushing Meadows to 16 consecutive matches.

Why did Sabalenka stop her third-round match?

The only pause in Sabalenka's momentum came from an unusual off-court issue. During her second service game against Rakhimova, she halted play to alert chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to a strong smell of cannabis in Louis Armstrong Stadium. "Someone is smoking weed," Sabalenka said. After her win, she clarified her stance. "I was like, Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please don't do it around the tennis courts," Sabalenka told reporters. She explained the smell is a tricky distraction when trying to compete at the highest level.

What motivates Sabalenka during another title chase?

In an interview shared by JioStar, Sabalenka reflected on the pressure of being the hunted. "Competition always pushes you to get better," she said. "That's what I love about tennis, when someone is chasing you or when you're the one being chased. It keeps you hungry." She also stressed the importance of balance, noting the need to switch off from the intense on-court focus to relax and recharge away from the sport.

Who stands between Sabalenka and the quarterfinals?

Sabalenka's next test is a fourth-round clash on Sunday, September 6, against American Taylor Townsend. The top seed has never faced the unseeded Townsend before. Townsend earned her spot with a gritty three-set win over 15th seed Diana Shnaider. Sabalenka enters as the heavy favourite, with her dominant serve and power from the baseline posing a significant challenge. A win would see her match her career-best result in New York for the third straight year.

• KEY TAKEAWAYS: Sabalenka is into the US Open fourth round without dropping a set. She hasn't faced a break point in her last two matches. Her unbeaten streak at the event now stands at 16 wins. She next plays Taylor Townsend on September 6.

Other contenders are also advancing. American Jessica Pegula, who could mathematically dethrone Sabalenka for the world No. 1 ranking this fortnight, fought back from a set down to beat Leylah Fernandez. The tournament also anticipates the return of Venus and Serena Williams in doubles action, adding to the spectacle in New York.