World’s top-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka faced a challenging match against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova at the U.S. Open, managing to secure victory with a 7-6(1) 3-6 7-6(10-7) scoreline. This win marked Sabalenka’s sixth consecutive appearance in the tournament’s semifinals. Despite not dropping a set earlier, the defending champion had to overcome Noskova’s strong performance, including 18 aces and saving seven out of nine break points. Sabalenka, vying for a third consecutive Flushing Meadows title, will face the victor of the Jessica Pegula versus Emma Navarro match.
Sabalenka expressed her admiration for Noskova’s skills, acknowledging the intensity of the match and her own perseverance. The Belarusian initially broke Noskova’s serve in the second game but faced a strong comeback from the Czech player. Sabalenka’s prowess in tiebreakers was evident in the first set, where she quickly gained a lead. However, she struggled in the second set, committing unforced errors, and allowing Noskova to take the lead.
As the match progressed, Noskova seemed poised to upset Sabalenka, taking advantage of her opponent’s mistakes. Sabalenka, frustrated by her own errors, managed to regain composure and level the match in the third set. In the decisive tiebreak, Sabalenka found her rhythm again, finishing with an ace and crediting the supportive fans for contributing to her victory.
Reflecting on the challenging encounter, Sabalenka described it as a tough battle that pushed her to her limits.