Aryna Sabalenka kept her quest for a third straight US Open crown alive after edging a gritty three‑set battle against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in a captivating quarter‑final. The win also secured her position as world No. 1 for at least another day, extending her remarkable run at the top of the women's game.
The 28‑year‑old Belarusian overcame Noskova 7‑6 (7‑1), 3‑6, 7‑6 (10‑7), navigating two tie‑breaks and even fighting back from a 4‑2 deficit in the deciding set. She clinched the match with a decisive second‑serve ace, earning a semi‑final showdown with American Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka must capture the title in New York to preserve her No.
1 ranking. However, her hold on the top spot is far from guaranteed. If Elena Rybakina—who bested Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this year—defeats Qinwen Zheng in her own quarter‑final on Wednesday, Sabalenka will be overtaken regardless of her own performance. Conversely, should Rybakina fall, Pegula or Coco Gauff could ascend to world No.
1 provided they win the tournament on Saturday evening at Flushing Meadows. Having reigned as world No.
1 for 99 consecutive weeks, Sabalenka is eyeing a historic achievement: becoming the first woman since Serena Williams (who won three consecutive US Opens from 2012 to 2014) to claim the title three years in a row. Her dominance over Noskova is now 3‑0, after victories at the Adelaide International final in 2023 and the Indian Wells semi‑final earlier this season. Noskova, the 21‑year‑old Czech, fought valiantly. She forced a first‑set tie‑break after trailing 5‑2, but double‑faulted at 3‑3 in the final‑set breaker and slipped to 8‑6 after an ill‑timed net cord.
Despite her effort, she could not become the first woman since Naomi Osaka—who won back‑to‑back Grand Slams at the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open—to secure consecutive major titles, as her 11‑match major winning streak ended with this loss. Sabalenka’s performance was marked by her trademark composure in pressure moments. She broke Noskova to love in the second game, surged to a 5‑2 lead, then allowed the Czech to claw back to 6‑6. The first tie‑break was a one‑sided affair, with Sabalenka’s power overwhelming Noskova, whose sole point came from an ace.
In the second set, Noskova held her serve early, even breaking Sabalenka twice, but the Belarusian’s resilience saw her recover, saving a break point with an ace before Noskova ultimately clinched the set 6‑3. The third set saw Noskova break Sabalenka in the fifth game, capitalising on two double‑faults from the world No.
1. Sabalenka, however, dug deep, leveling the set at 4‑4 and forcing another tie‑break. This time the breaker was far more contested, yet Sabalenka’s experience in clutch situations shone through as she secured the 10‑7 win, propelling her into the semi‑finals.
After the match, Sabalenka reflected on her mental approach: "Thinking the match was over helped me stay loose and go for my shots. I’m super happy to get this win – it was a tough battle. These crowds, tie‑breaks and high‑pressure moments boost my confidence and energy.
For now I just want to relax, recover, and reflect on what happened." Jessica Pegula, who earned her third straight quarter‑final appearance in New York by rallying from a break down in the third set to defeat Emma Navarro 3‑6, 6‑4, 6‑3, will now face the two‑time defending champion. Pegula has enjoyed a string of recent successes against Sabalenka, including a fifth straight victory over the Belarusian, highlighted by a win at last month’s Cincinnati Open. Pegula described her own quarter‑final effort: "It was really tough, really physical.
I wasn’t serving my best, I was fighting a lot of demons out there. I do a great job of having a short‑term memory—every time I come out, no matter what, I have to tell the negative part of me to shut up and just play tennis and compete." Former British star Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Sabalenka’s mental fortitude: "Some of her less‑consistent form has come in smaller events where her intensity and concentration dip, but when you face a top‑quality opponent you have to step up. Her tie‑break record is phenomenal.
In the most pressure‑packed moments, she’s the one delivering the big shots." Looking ahead, the semi‑final promises a compelling clash of styles: Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline power versus Pegula’s resilient, counter‑punching game. Both players know that a victory not only moves them closer to a US Open title but also carries massive ranking implications.
Should Sabalenka triumph, she will be on the brink of a historic three‑peat; should Pegula prevail, she could claim her first Grand Slam and possibly the world No. 1 spot. Fans can continue to follow the drama live on Sky Sports until Sunday, September 13, or stream the matches contract‑free via NOW. The tournament’s final stages are set to deliver high‑octane tennis, with every point potentially reshaping the landscape of women’s tennis for the rest of the season.