Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after the women's singles fourth round match against Cristina Bucsa of Spain at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus dominated Spain's Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4 to advance into the women's singles quarterfinals, while 38-year-old Novak Djokovic sailed past Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in the men's singles fourth round at the US Open on Sunday.
Defending champion Sabalenka, 27, won 84 percent on first serve against Spaniard Bucsa who showed resilience in the second set but still lost the match in 73 minutes.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka will confront Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, after the 2023 Wimbledon champion overcame ninth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
With a straight-set victory over 35-year-old Struff, Serbia's Djokovic has reached at least the quarterfinal stage of all four Grand Slams this year.
"Most of my career, I was running, I was sliding, I was grinding on the court, so I don't think that is going to change. But at times, when I have to be more aggressive and step in, I try to do that. That was the case tonight, so of course I'm pleased with the performance," Djokovic said after the match.
The veteran reached the semifinals at this year's Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
In other men's singles matches, second seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated France's Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4, while home favorite Taylor Fritz beat Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
Women's doubles 12th seed Zhang Shuai of China and Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova claimed a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over British pair Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal. ■
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus hits a return during the women's singles fourth round match against Cristina Bucsa of Spain at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus hits a return during the women's singles fourth round match against Cristina Bucsa of Spain at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves during the women's singles fourth round match against Cristina Bucsa of Spain at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Cristina Bucsa of Spain celebrates a point during the women's singles fourth round match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Cristina Bucsa of Spain celebrates a point during the women's singles fourth round match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus hits a return during the women's singles fourth round match against Cristina Bucsa of Spain at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Aryna Sabalenka (L) of Belarus greets Cristina Bucsa of Spain after their women's singles fourth round match at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a reuturn during the men's singles fourth round match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a reuturn during the men's singles fourth round match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves during the men's singles fourth round match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany hits a reuturn during the men's singles fourth round match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a reuturn during the men's singles fourth round match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany hits a reuturn during the men's singles fourth round match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a reuturn during the men's singles fourth round match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a reuturn during the men's singles fourth round match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
