“I’m super-happy with the performance today,” Sabalenka said afterwards. “I think I played great tennis.”
The Belarusian right-hander will play Russia’s 13th seed Daria Kasatkina on Monday in the last 16. Kasatkina booked her place in the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen.
“Always tricky matches against her,” Sabalenka said. “I have to be focused and I don’t have to overrush things against her.
“I just have to stay calm and just wait for the opportunity and take it.”
Meanwhile, 17th seed Madison Keys became the second American woman into the last 16 after Coco Gauff, with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over Russian 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova.
Keys will play compatriot and third seed Jessica Pegula next. Pegula outfought Ukraine’s 26th-ranked Elina Svitolina 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
“I knew no matter what, she wasn’t going to go away,” said Pegula, a quarter-finalist at five of the past seven grand slams.
In the men’s draw, world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz surged into the last 16 as he aims to become the first man to successfully defend the title since Roger Federer in 2008. The Spaniard polished off British 26th seed Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in three hours, 11 minutes.
It was another stylish victory for the 20-year-old, who will face Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi on Monday.
Alcaraz kept Evans on the back foot with his booming forehand while delighting the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with several of his signature drop shots.
“He’s a tricky opponent,” Alcaraz said. “I think when we play each other it’s a show on the court. We made great points, great shots, a lot of different kinds of situations.”
Alcaraz, who will surrender his world No 1 ranking to Novak Djokovic at the end of this tournament, admitted he was motivated by matching Federer in defending his crown.
“Obviously defending the title is a goal for me,” he said. “I’m looking for that. Nobody’s done it here since Roger so I’d love to be part of tournament history with him.”
Alcaraz’s win keeps him on track for a repeat quarter-final against Italy’s Jannik Sinner, a year after the two men dueled in an epic five-hour five-setter that finished at 2.50am, the latest finish in US Open history.
Sixth seed Sinner did his part to keep the rematch on course on Saturday with a stylish 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka.
Alcaraz’s last-16 opponent Arnaldi, meanwhile, advanced after upsetting 16th-seeded Briton Cameron Norrie, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in just under two hours.
Arnaldi, 22, had never played in the main draw of a grand slam before this season, with a brief run to the second round at Roland Garros his best performance in a major championship.
“It was a bit crazy,” Arnaldi said. “I’m a bit speechless. But I think I played really, really well. I mean, we planned to do what I did and it worked for all the match.”
There was better luck for another member of Britain’s US Open contingent, with Jack Draper reaching the last 16 of a slam for the first time with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over American Michael Mmoh.
The win was especially sweet for the 21-year-old Briton, who was forced to withdraw with an injury at the same stage last year.
“It was a tough match,” Draper said. “I knew it would be a real challenge and I was proud of the way I came through.”
Draper will face eighth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev for a place in the quarter-finals.
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