US Open 2025: without trembling, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka reach the quarter-finals

The Serb reassured himself on Sunday by playing the best match of his week, while Aryna Sabalenka performed well to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The top 10 didn't hang around. Carlos Alcaraz, world number 2, Novak Djokovic (7th in the ATP), Taylor Fritz (4th) and Aryna Sabalenka (world number 1) burst onto the US Open quarter-finals on Sunday, August 31, without dropping a single set, a demonstration that Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek will try to emulate on Monday. The last two French players, Arthur Rinderknech and Adrian Mannarino, were eliminated on Sunday in the round of 16, respectively by Carlos Alcaraz and Jiri Lehecka.

Djokovic earned his 14th ticket to the big eight in New York, where only Jimmy Connors has done better (17), by defeating the German Jan-Lennard Struff (144th), a qualifier, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Against an opponent who regularly managed to build his points, the Serb delivered, by far, his best performance of the tournament, particularly on serve (12 aces and no double faults). "The way I played tonight encourages me and makes me positive," described the reigning Olympic champion. "It was my best performance so far, so I hope I can continue like this."

The former world number one will face the 2024 finalist, American Taylor Fritz, on Tuesday, who also easily qualified on Sunday against Tomas Machac (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) and who has never beaten him in ten confrontations. "Taylor is, without a doubt, one of the players who has the game and the potential to win a Grand Slam," said Djokovic . "I just hope it won't be this year, here," he added with a smile.

In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Spain's Cristina Bucsa (35th) in two sets this evening. After having to come to a close in each of her first three matches of the tournament, the Belarusian this time won both sets without a hitch, with a score of 6-1, 6-4, in just over an hour (1h13). "I'm very happy with this victory," Sabalenka said after the match. " I feel like I'm playing better and better with each match and I hope that continues."

Focused on her serve, she didn't offer any break points to the Moldovan-born player, and won 84% of the points once her first serve was in play. She was also powerful on the return and imposed her power, both on her forehand and backhand, against the Spaniard who attempted a comeback in the second set, without converting.

Aryna Sabalenka will face Czech Marketa Vondrousova in the quarterfinals, who defeated Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina (9th in the WTA), 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Back from injury, the 2023 Wimbledon champion was dominant on serve (13 aces) and focused on keeping the ball in the court, committing few unforced errors (15 compared to her rival's 38). After undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer of 2024, the Czech returned in January but had to stop again due to recurring pain, and did not return to the circuit until the end of May, at Roland-Garros.