Aryna Sabalenka kept her hopes of a third straight US Open title alive with a battling three-set win over Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in an absorbing quarter-final. The result keeps her at world No 1 for at least one more day.
The 28-year-old beat Noskova 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 7-6 (10-7), coming through two tie-breaks and a 4-2 deficit in the final set. She sealed victory with a second-serve ace to set up a semi-final against the winner of Tuesday night's all-American clash between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro.
Sabalenka needs to win in New York to have any chance of staying as world No 1. She will definitely lose that spot if Elena Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in this year's Australian Open final, overcomes Qinwen Zheng in her quarter-final on Wednesday. If Rybakina is beaten, Pegula or Coco Gauff could rise to the top of the rankings should they win the tournament at Flushing Meadows on Saturday evening.
Sabalenka, world No 1 for 99 consecutive weeks, is looking to become the first woman to win the US Open three times in a row since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014.
Noskova, who had forced a first-set tie-break from 5-2 down, double faulted at 3-3 in the final-set breaker and then slipped 8-6 down after an unfortunate net cord. Sabalenka, who has never lost a US Open quarter-final and has won her last 10 tie-breaks at the event, edged into the last four.
Sabalenka extended her immaculate career record against Noskova to 3-0, having previously beaten the 21-year-old in the Adelaide International final in 2023 and the Indian Wells semi-finals earlier this year.
Noskova will not become the first woman to secure back-to-back Grand Slams since Naomi Osaka claimed the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open, after her 11-match winning streak in majors came to an end.
Speaking in her on-court interview, Sabalenka said: "Thinking the match is over is probably what helped me to feel loose, go for my shots. I am super happy to get this win – a tough match, tough battle.
"These kind of crowds, tie-breaks, and these matches that are such high pressure boost my confidence and my energy.
"For now I just want to relax, recover, and reflect on what happened."
Sabalenka broke Noskova to love in the second game of the match en route to a 5-2 lead, only to then lose four of the next five games as her Czech opponent fought back to 6-6. The first-set tie-break, however, was completely one-sided, with Noskova's only point coming via an ace out wide as her double fault and Sabalenka's power settled things.
Noskova staved off break points early in the second set, including in the first game, and carved out two of her own on the Sabalenka serve at 3-2 up, taking the second of those when her rival produced an untimely double fault. Sabalenka saved break point with an ace in her subsequent service game before Noskova went on to set up a deciding set by converting a fourth set point.
Noskova became favourite when she broke Sabalenka in the fifth game of the third set, with the world No 1 twice double-faulting in that game. But Sabalenka dug deep to level the match at 4-4 before the enthralled spectators were treated to another tie-break.
The tournament is being shown live on Sky Sports.
Wednesday 9 September 2026 00:25, UK
