Aryna Sabalenka’s quest for a third consecutive US Open title remains alive after a hard-fought victory over sixth seed Linda Noskova. The 28-year-old, who holds four Grand Slam singles titles, was pushed to a deciding set for the first time in this year’s tournament. Despite trailing 4-2 in the final set and later facing a 2-0 deficit in the tie-break, Sabalenka maintained her composure to seal the win in just under two and a half hours.
This triumph marks Sabalenka’s 19th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows, a streak dating back to her 2023 final appearance. With this result, she becomes the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach six successive semi-finals at the venue. While the win ensures she temporarily retains her world number one ranking, she faces a challenge to hold that position; if Elena Rybakina defeats Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday, the world number two will overtake her regardless of Sabalenka’s subsequent performance.
Reflecting on the intensity of the match, Sabalenka admitted she felt the pressure mounting during the final stages. “I’m speechless right now. I was pushing to the limit in this match, especially in the third set,” she said. “I honestly thought that that’s it, the match is over, but probably that’s what helped me to feel loose and go after my shots. I’m super happy to get the win.”
The Belarusian’s ability to recover from adversity—similar to her previous comeback against Taylor Townsend—suggests a newfound mental resilience, a notable shift for a player who has previously struggled with emotional regulation in high-stakes matches like the French Open. Looking ahead, Sabalenka will compete for a spot in her fourth consecutive US Open final against either third-seeded American Jessica Pegula or 26th-seeded Emma Navarro. The report also notes that when she had her serve broken four times and trailed 3-1 in the second set, Sabalenka showed impressive composure to emerge victorious against Wimbledon champion Nos, but as in her previous match against Taylor Townsend.
