US Open: Sabalenka brushes aside Kasatkina challenge to book spot in quarter-finals

Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed a straightforward win over Daria Kasatkina, beating the Russian 6-1, 6-3 to progress to the quarter-finals of the US Open for a second successive year.

The Belarusian will be crowned the new world No 1 whatever happens throughout the rest of this tournament, after Iga Swiatek lost to Jelena Ostapenko yesterday night.

Sabalenka will be seeking to make it a double triumph by taking the title in New York, as her campaign for a second Grand Slam title gathers serious momentum.

Sabalenka simply too good for Kasatkina

The Australian Open champion was far too powerful for Kasatkina, who could not make full use of her variety as Sabalenka played ferocious, first-strike tennis that the Russian could simply not keep up with.

It was a chastening experience for Kasatkina. Ranked No 14 in the world and one of the tour’s most dangerous players, yet there remain questions around her ability to match the top players on the biggest stages as her achievements at Grand Slam level has had a ceiling that the Russian can’t seem to break through.

Sabalenka is now the highest remaining seed in the draw and will face 20-year-old first-time quarter-finalist Qinwen Zheng in the last eight.

Zheng is a talented young player on the rise, but Sabalenka will fancy her chances against an opponent over whom she has vastly more experience.

Also in the half of the draw are Madison Keys and Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.

Ahead of her victory, the Belarusian won against Belgian Maryna Zanevska (6-3, 6-2), Jodie Burrage (6-3, 6-2) and Frenchwoman Clara Burel (6-1, 6-1).

Kasatkina, ranked No 14, won against American Alycia Parks (2-6, 6-4, 6-2), American Sofia Kenin (2-6, 6-4, 6-4) and Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen (6-3, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

New York (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 44.700.000, most recent results first):

• Qinwen Zheng beat Ons Jabeur (5): 6-2, 6-4
• Madison Keys (17) beat Jessica Pegula (3): 6-1, 6-3
• Marketa Vondrousova (9) beat Peyton Stearns: 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2
• Jelena Ostapenko (20) beat Iga Swiatek (1): 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
• Coco Gauff (6) beat Caroline Wozniacki (WC): 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
• Sorana Cirstea (30) beat Belinda Bencic (15): 6-3, 6-3
• Karolina Muchova (10) beat Xinyu Wang: 6-3, 5-7, 6-1