NEW YORK, United States – Aryna Sabalenka survived a major test from Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova on Tuesday, winning 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) to reach the U.S. Open semifinals for a sixth consecutive year.
The world No. 1 recovered after falling 4-2 behind in the deciding set and sealed the quarterfinal after 2 hours and 22 minutes. The victory kept Sabalenka’s attempt to win a third straight U.S. Open title on course.
It was also Sabalenka’s 15th Grand Slam semifinal. She will next face third-seeded American Jessica Pegula, who defeated Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the other quarterfinal on their side of the draw.
Sabalenka recovers after Noskova takes control
Sabalenka made the stronger start and quickly moved ahead in the opening set. Noskova, however, recovered from the early pressure and forced a tiebreak.
The top seed dominated that tiebreak 7-1, but Noskova responded in the second set. The Czech player improved her serving and groundstrokes and capitalized on a Sabalenka double fault to take a 4-2 lead before closing out the set 6-3.
The result marked the first set Sabalenka had dropped at this year’s tournament.
Noskova leads in the deciding set
Noskova carried her momentum into the third set and again put Sabalenka under pressure.
The sixth seed reached a 4-2 lead and appeared to be in position to complete a major upset. Sabalenka steadied herself, recovered the break and forced another tiebreak to decide the match.
Sabalenka then regained control in the final breaker and closed out the match 10-7. The official tournament draw confirms the three-set result and her progression into the semifinals.
Sabalenka said afterward that she had to focus on individual points after Noskova began serving and applying pressure more effectively in the third set.
Three-peat bid remains alive
The victory keeps Sabalenka’s pursuit of a third consecutive U.S. Open championship intact.
If she wins the title, Sabalenka would join Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women in the Open Era to win the tournament three years in succession, according to the tournament’s reporting.
The challenge now shifts to Pegula. The American reached the semifinal by overcoming Navarro and will meet Sabalenka for a place in the final. The matchup is scheduled for Sept. 10.
For Noskova, the defeat ends a strong U.S. Open run after she entered the tournament as the sixth seed and followed her Wimbledon championship with her first appearance in the New York quarterfinals.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, remains two victories away from completing a three-peat that would further define her position at the top of women’s tennis.
Reporting Credit: U.S. Open — official tournament reporting and draw records confirming Sabalenka’s quarterfinal victory and semifinal progression; Women’s Tennis Association — official match results, match statistics and tournament reporting on Sabalenka’s victory over Noskova and upcoming semifinal against Jessica Pegula.
