Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka thumped unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4 on Aug 31 to seal her return to the US Open quarter-finals, ramping up her bid for a first Grand Slam title in 2025 after defeats in two major finals.
The world No. 1, beaten in both the Australian and French Open finals, enjoyed her most comfortable win in New York in 2025 as she inched closer to becoming the first woman since Serena Williams (2012-2014) to win consecutive US Open titles.
"I was super happy with the straight-sets win. The second set was a little tricky, but I'm glad that I was able to close it without dropping my serve," Sabalenka told reporters.
