Sabalenka fights past Townsend into US Open quarters

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka subdued American Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-3 on Sunday to reach the US Open quarter-finals without dropping a set.

The world number one had endured a frustrating build-up to the year’s final major but has hit her stride at Flushing Meadows and she slammed her foot on the gas in the second set against the home-crowd favourite, sealing victory with a backhand winner.

She will next play either Ukrainian 11th seed Marta Kostyuk or the Czech Republic's Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

"What an incredible player she is approaching the net, what a great returner," said Sabalenka. "Very brave, you can see how focused she was. It was really challenging playing her, especially here."