US Open 2023: New world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka thrashes Daria Kasatkina to reach quarter-finals

Aryna Sabalenka thrashed Daria Kasatkina to reach the last eight at the US Open, before revealing she was “sad” to claim the world No. 1 ranking off the court after Iga Swiatek’s shock defeat on Sunday.

Sabalenka maintained her focus to beat No. 13 seed Kasatkina 6-1 6-3 and set up a clash with China’s Zheng Qinwen, who easily beat Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur in straight sets.

Speaking on court after the match, Sabalenka admitted her surprise and disappointment at Swiatek’s exit.

“I had no doubt she’d make it to the final. It only depended on me if I was going to make it,” Sabalenka said.

“I wanted to have this battle and decide everything on court. I was sad that she lost.

“But it means a lot to me, all year I’ve been pushing myself to reach this goal, to become world No. 1.

“It means a lot to me and my family, it’s just unbelievable. It’s something crazy, I still can’t believe it.”

Sabalenka broke Kasatkina seven times and landed 31 winners to claim her 21st Grand Slam win of the year.

She got the job done in just 75 minutes on court, and rattled through the opener in under half an hour as Kasatkina failed to hold a single service game.

Sabalenka faced more of a test in set two, but an early break for a 3-1 lead gave her the advantage and she refused to let it slip, with the final three games all resulting in breaks of serve.

The Australian Open champion said afterwards that she had managed to avoid the temptation of staying up to watch the end of Swiatek’s defeat to Ostapenko and focus on her own match.

“I was really curious what’s going on there, but I pushed myself so hard to not watch the score, just go to bed,” Sabalenka said.

“I know if I had seen the result yesterday, it would have been really tough to sleep. I was just like, no, I have a match tomorrow, I have to focus on that, it doesn’t matter.”

She added: “I found out this morning. I just opened my phone and I was just like, guys, I have a match today, I have things to take care of. Thank you so much for all the support, for all the messages.

“I didn’t answer any of the messages because I was trying to stay focused on the game, don’t let this news distract me. I answered everybody only now.”

The winner of Sabalenka’s quarter-final clash with 23rd seed Zheng will face either American No. 17 seed Madison Keys or Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the last four.