Sabalenka races into US Open quarter-finals, says she wants "to win many more times"

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the US Open quarter-finals after a dominant 6-1 6-4 victory over unseeded Cristina Bucsa on Louis Armstrong Stadium, not facing a single break point in an hour and 13 minutes.

The 27-year-old Belarusian, who is defending her title at Flushing Meadows, said her recent results are driven by a desire to keep winning rather than by the pressure of holding the trophy. "I want to win many more times," Sabalenka said, adding, "I'm not playing not to lose, I play to win."

"Sabalenka has advanced to her fifth consecutive quarter-final in New York"

Sabalenka captured her first US Open singles title last September, defeating American Jessica Pegula in the final to claim her third Grand Slam singles crown. This year she has reached two major finals but fallen short, losing at the Australian Open to Madison Keys and at Roland Garros to Coco Gauff.

Against Bucsa, Sabalenka imposed her aggressive baseline game from the outset, breaking early in the first set and converting chances with powerful serving and penetrating groundstrokes. Bucsa, making a surprise run as an unseeded player in the draw, pressured Sabalenka occasionally in the second set but could not force a break.

The victory keeps Sabalenka on course in her title defence and extends her run of quarter-final appearances in New York to five consecutive tournaments. She will next prepare for the last eight, aiming to build on a year that has seen near-misses at the biggest events as well as last season’s triumph at Flushing Meadows.