With Roger Federer retired and Rafael Nadal struggling to get back on court due to injuries, Novak Djokovic was the last man of that golden generation standing at Flushing Meadows, but the Serb crashed out in the third round to Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Jannik Sinner produced a brutal display of baseline power as he became the first Italian man to win the US. Open with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 win over American Taylor Fritz in the final on Sunday.
"I'm speechless right now. So many times I thought I was so close to get the US Open title. It has always been a dream of mine and finally I got this beautiful trophy," said Sabalenka.
Frances Tiafoe blamed his heartbreaking five-set US Open semi-final defeat to Taylor Fritz on cramping after his "body shut down".
Taylor Fritz fought back to defeat compatriot Frances Tiafoe at the US Open on Friday, becoming the first American man to reach a Grand Slam final in 15 years.
Italian top seed Jannik Sinner took down ailing Briton Jack Draper 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to reach the US Open final on Friday, overcoming muggy conditions in a chaotic match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
World number one Jannik Sinner reached his first US Open semi-final on Wednesday with a four-set victory over 2021 champion and two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev.
Jessica Pegula became the fourth American to reach this year's US Open semifinals on Wednesday by stunning world number one Iga Swiatek as Jack Draper broke through to his first Grand Slam last-four.
Top seed Swiatek, who won the title two years ago, showcased her all-court game in a straightforward 6-4, 6-1 win over Russian Liudmila Samsonova to open the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium and warned she was only going to improve.
New York has been sweltering in a heatwave this week, with high humidity and temperatures at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday hitting 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit)
Djokovic shrugged off ninth seed Fritz 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to extend his dominance of American players in New York and take another step closer to a record-extending 24th men's Grand Slam title.
Daniil Medvedev expects his US Open quarterfinal with fellow Russian Andrey Rublev on Wednesday to be a real fight but said nothing will come between the childhood friends once the dust has settled.
Defending champion Alcaraz, who has only dropped one set on his journey into the last eight, produced a dominant display to overwhelm Italian world No.61 Matteo Arnaldi, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in 1hr 57min.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek was sent crashing out of the US Open on Sunday, losing in three sets to Latvia's 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko.
A tenacious Novak Djokovic survived a US Open late-night fright battling back from two sets down to tame fellow Serb Laslo Djere 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, and 6-3 on Friday, and move into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
Romanian Sorana Cirstea sent big-hitting fourth seed Elena Rybakina tumbling out of the U.S. Open with a thrilling 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4 victory late on Friday to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career.
Coco Gauff won the final 10 games of her match against Elise Mertens, completing a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 comeback and reaching the US Open round of 16, where she will face Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz eased into the third round of the US Open with a 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) win over South Africa's Lloyd Harris on Thursday.
The 26-year-old from Shanghai -- ranked 67th in the world -- produced the match of his life to defeat last year's US Open finalist 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 in 3hr 19min.