Aryna Sabalenka is channeling the mindset of tennis legend Rafael Nadal as she navigates the mounting pressure at the US Open. Following her 6-4, 6-3 victory over Taylor Townsend to advance to the quarterfinals, Sabalenka dismissed speculation about her world No. 1 ranking.
"I completely separate myself from that, it’s just, ‘if if if’,” Sabalenka said. “I’m completely focusing on myself. These scenarios, there’s always scenarios for something, different statistics. So I’m completely trying to stay away from it.”
Nadal’s philosophy, famously articulated after a loss in the 2015 Australian Open, emphasizes action over hypothetical outcomes: "‘If’ doesn’t exist in sport... The thing is, you have to do it."
Sabalenka’s status as world No. 1 remains precarious. If she defends her title and closest rival Elena Rybakina does not reach the semifinals, her 99-week reign will continue. However, if Sabalenka falters, Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, or Coco Gauff could claim the top ranking.
Sabalenka has reached six consecutive US Open quarterfinals, a streak last matched by Serena Williams. However, her performance against Townsend, ranked world No. 96, raised questions about her form heading into a more challenging match against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
Taylor Townsend, a left-handed doubles specialist who has been as high as world No. 46, has proven a difficult opponent at Flushing Meadows. Last year, she reached the fourth round, defeating Mirra Andreeva en route. Despite her success in New York, she has struggled at other Grand Slam tournaments since 2023.
Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Labor Day weekend, Townsend was a home favorite, and the crowd appeared to favor her. The match began with an unpredictable series of service breaks, with neither player able to hold serve consistently in the early games. Sabalenka eventually secured a crucial hold and a subsequent break to take the first set 6-4, though the scoreline did not fully reflect the tight nature of the set.
"Winning positions have been no safety cushion for her in recent months," the report noted, highlighting Sabalenka’s visible tension when Townsend broke back. Sabalenka managed to regroup, forcing Townsend into baseline rallies and securing the first set.
The second set saw a bit more rhythm, but Sabalenka continued to face challenges, particularly against Townsend's sliced serve. Two of Sabalenka's recent defeats have come against left-handed opponents. Despite moments where her game appeared to falter, Sabalenka, displaying the resilience of a champion, managed to cling on and secure her place in the next round. The path ahead promises further tests.
