Sports
Sabalenka Battles Past Noskova in Thriller to Reach US Open Semi-Finals
Aryna Sabalenka overcame a tense mental battle to defeat sixth seed Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (7) and advance to the semi-finals of the US Open, keeping alive her hopes of a third consecutive title at the tournament.
The top-seeded Sabalenka appeared close to unraveling during the deciding set. At 2-2, a double fault left her facing a 0-40 deficit, prompting her to drop to her knees and scream in frustration. She soon fell behind 2-4. Sabalenka has struggled to handle pressure situations over the past five months, but this match represented a final opportunity to rescue her season, with both her US Open crown and her world No 1 ranking at stake.
Despite the setback, Sabalenka regrouped, breaking back to love after trailing 2-4, 0-15, and eventually leveling the set before winning a decisive tie-break 7-1... [correction: final tie-break score not 7-1, see below].
The match was widely regarded as one of the best of the year, featuring powerful serving and aggressive baseline play from both competitors. Noskova hit 18 aces, while Sabalenka landed 46% of her serves unreturned, including a crucial second-serve ace to close out the second-set tie-break. Sabalenka's raw power was countered by Noskova's precise shot-making and timing, though the Czech player's forehand faltered at key moments in the final set.
"What a battle," Sabalenka said afterward. "What an incredible player she is. I'm speechless right now because I was pushing myself to the limit in this match, especially in the third set. I honestly thought that that's it, the match is over. Probably that's what helped me to feel loose and go after my shots. Super happy to get this win."
The outcome leaves the battle for the world No 1 ranking undecided. If Elena Rybakina defeats Zheng Qinwen in their quarter-final, she will claim the top spot for the first time. Should Rybakina lose, Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, or Jessica Pegula could finish the tournament ranked No 1, depending on the results.
Sabalenka will next face the winner of the match between third seed Jessica Pegula and 26th seed Emma Navarro.
Although Noskova was eliminated, her run to the quarter-finals — following her Wimbledon triumph earlier this year — demonstrated her continued high level of play against the world's top-ranked player. At 21, Noskova is expected to keep developing as a serious contender in the sport's upper echelon.
The tournament's quarter-final lineup underscored the depth of competition in women's tennis this year, with all of the top six seeds advancing to the final eight, five of them former grand slam champions, alongside Pegula and Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen.