Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka averts late Leylah Fernandez revival to seal US Open Last 16 spot

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has moved into the Last 16 of the 2025 US Open after taking down Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 7-6 on Friday night in New York.

Sabalenka was dialled in during the opening set but Fernandez grew into the game and started to show some of the form which saw her seal the Washington title last month. But in the end, Sabalenka who is usually clutch in tie-breaks proved to be again as she surged past the Canadian.

Next up is also a pretty simple task on paper in comparison perhaps to Fernandez and that is Cristina Bucsa who is in uncharted territory. The Spaniard took down Elise Mertens in three sets earlier today after previously averting Alexandra Eala in the second round. While Bucsa is not who perhaps Sabalenka would be expecting to face, it is also welcome with the Quarter-Finals very much likely.

As mentioned, the tie-break in particular is a real weapon for Sabalenka who now has won 18 straight and is on 21-1 overall this year alone. Fernandez though never broke Sabalenka despite having chances to but it was a statement in the end from the Belarusian in one of her best matches in some time.

The match began with Fernandez earning multiple break points to begin as she looked to take the game to Sabalenka but she eventually saved them all before holding serve. Fernandez put the early feelers out when it came to showing Sabalenka that she was here for the test. But it only fuelled the fire inside of the World No.1. She broke Fernandez's serve in the first set and never really looked back sweeping the remainder of the set 6-3.

The second set proved to be more competitive and in reality it is where the best tennis of Fernandez came out as she didn't give much away on serve this time. She had a break point of her own, the only one of the opening stanzas but missed the chance to go 4-2 up. She managed to continue to eek ahead though as Sabalenka was looking more increasingly at the tie-break.

There were no further chances to break as Sabalenka took it all the way holding serve at 6-6 and it got sent to the tie-break. Sabalenka though served her authority early on as she marched into a 5-1 lead and only conceded one more point for the rest of it as she brought up match point at 6-1 lost it and then sealed it at 6-2. She sealed it first time to claim the win from there with no more issues.

It was also a revenge mission for the Belarusian who lost to Fernandez back in 2021 in the semi-finals in a tournament that saw Emma Raducanu crowned as champion and Fernandez also became a star. While Sabalenka has taken a much more glittering path since, the scars still hurt and she managed to get one out of her system tonight at Flushing Meadows.

“It was definitely an exciting match,” Sabalenka said after the match. “Last time we met, it was a great battle. She played an incredible match, and I wanted this revenge badly, so I’m super happy with the win. She’s a great player, a great competitor and always brings you the fight on court.”