Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic advanced to the US Open quarter-finals with straight-set victories on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, while women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her title defense. The two men’s tennis stars remain on track for a potential semi-final showdown.Spanish second seed Alcaraz defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4, maintaining his perfect record of not dropping a set in the tournament.“I think my style of tennis suits pretty well the energy here in New York. The energy is special playing the day session, playing the night session. It doesn’t matter, people are always there. I love it and I think that’s why I play my best tennis here,” Alcaraz said.Alcaraz will face Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka in Tuesday’s quarter-finals. Lehecka secured his second Grand Slam quarter-final appearance by defeating French veteran Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Djokovic, 38, continued his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title by defeating unseeded German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.
A trainer works on Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, between games against Jan-Lennard Struff, of Germany, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
“It definitely helps if you serve well. I think I had a great serving performance last round and also tonight. That helps make it easier on the court,” Djokovic said.The Serbian tennis icon will face American fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals. Fritz defeated Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in 98 minutes.Fritz, the last remaining American man in the tournament, faces a challenging task against Djokovic, who has won all their previous ten encounters.“I think the first, almost like seven or eight times I played him, I probably just wasn’t a good enough player to really have that much of a chance. I think only the last couple times we’ve played I think I’ve been this just better player that can, you know, I’d say compete and have chances,” Fritz said.In the women’s draw, Sabalenka easily defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4. The world number 95 Bucsa, originally from Moldova, couldn’t match Sabalenka’s powerful game.
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, shakes hands with Cristina Bucsa, of Spain, after winning their fourth round match of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Sabalenka has now reached at least the quarter-finals in her last 12 Grand Slam tournaments.“I’m super proud, I think that’s an incredible achievement. I think for me the key was balancing on and off-the-court life. I think I’ve done a great job on balancing really hard work and also great recovery and some fun time outside of tennis court. I think that’s been the key,” Sabalenka said.Sabalenka will face Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals. Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, upset ninth seed Elena Rybakina 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Barbora Krejcikova, of the Czech Republic, returns a shot against Taylor Townsend, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
In another notable women’s match, unseeded Czech player Barbora Krejcikova staged a remarkable comeback against Taylor Townsend, saving eight match points to win 1-6, 7-6 (15/13), 6-3.“What a match. I was sidelined for six months and didn’t know if I would ever play again. I’m super happy I can be here,” Krejcikova said.Krejcikova will face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals. Pegula, last year’s finalist, advanced after defeating fellow American Ann Li 6-1, 6-2.
