Defending champs Sabalenka, Alcaraz reach U.S. Open quarterfinals Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz won in straight sets and advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals. Americans Frances Tiafoe, Alex Michelsen, Ben Shelton and Jessica Pegula also moved on, setting up all-American matchups. Defending U.S. Open champions Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Sunday. Alcaraz will face American Ben Shelton on Tuesday, and Sabalenka will meet Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova. Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen also set up an all-American men's quarterfinal, guaranteeing a U.S. man in the semifinals. The top-ranked Sabalenka overpowered Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 in Sunday's fourth round after solving early problems holding serve. Townsend broke Sabalenka three times in her first four service games in their first career meeting. Sabalenka found a groove, regained her confidence and did not lose another point after falling behind 3-1 in the second set.‘I love matches like that because it was really challenging,’ Sabalenka said. ‘Going through tough challenges and overcoming those challenges definitely gives you strength and really strong belief that you can do it. ’ Townsend gave Sabalenka fits early but struggled to find her own rhythm. She said, ‘This was the most comfortable and confident I’ve ever been playing against a No. 1 player in the world.’ ‘From the beginning, I felt like I belonged,’ Townsend said.‘From the beginning, I felt like I was right where I needed to be. I still feel that way. ’ Next up for Sabalenka is Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, who needed six match points to get past Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. Sabalenka said of Noskova, ‘I played a couple of matches against her in the past, which also wasn’t the easiest matches.Really aggressive style of the game. Serving really well, playing super fast. You’ve got to stay really low to be able to handle that power and energy. ’ Alcaraz advanced in straight sets, beating Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the second match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.He said, ‘I’m happy with that performance. I played my game. I tried to play my style. ’ Alcaraz added, ‘Tommy’s such a talented player.His shots are pretty dangerous and it’s sometimes pretty difficult to control the ball when it comes to you, so I just tried to be ready. ’ Playing in his first tournament after a four-month absence because of a right wrist injury, Alcaraz said last week he would not be coming back if he could not play like his usual self.The 23-year-old Spaniard has dropped only one set through four rounds, dictated play and extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 18. When Paul was making things interesting in the third set, Alcaraz set up match point with a shot so perfectly in bounds that it left actor Matthew McConaughey, along with many others in the crowd, in disbelief. Asked if he thinks he is back to form, Alcaraz responded, ‘I think so.’ ‘I’m just trying to enjoy my time on the court,’ Alcaraz said.‘It doesn’t matter that I was out four months and a half. Every time that I come here, I play my best. ’ Alcaraz will face Ben Shelton, the No. 8 seed who swept Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday night in his strongest performance of the tournament. Shelton said, ‘We’re happy to have him back on tour.He lights up the stadium every time he plays. I think it’s going to be fireworks on Tuesday night. ’ Townsend and Paul were among 10 Americans who reached the men’s and women’s round of 16. That is the most in the fourth round at any Grand Slam in nearly a quarter-century, dating to the 2002 U.S. Open, when there were 11.The five U.S. men in the round of 16 were Paul, Shelton, Learner Tien, Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen, the most at a major since eight reached that stage at Flushing Meadows in 1995. Tiafoe knocked off seventh-seeded Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (6) to improve to 10-0 at Louis Armstrong Stadium, which he called ‘the people’s court. ’ Michelsen beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-4, setting up the all-American quarterfinal with Tiafoe on Tuesday.At 20, Tien is the youngest American man in the U.S. Open fourth round since Andy Roddick in 2002. No U.S. men’s player has won a Grand Slam since Roddick won in New York in 2003. Townsend said, ‘American tennis has been on the up and up for many years now.There have been a really consistent chunk of players — Jess, Coco — have been at the top and inside the top five for the last, I don’t know how many years. ’ ‘Ben, Frances, Tommy, Taylor: It’s just such a great group of men, as well,’ she added. There will also be an all-American women’s quarterfinal.No. 3 Jessica Pegula advanced by beating No. 16 Sorana Cirstea, and 26th-seeded Emma Navarro reached the quarterfinals by ousting No. 21 Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets.