Sabalenka rallies past Noskova to reach sixth straight US Open semi-final

Aryna Sabalenka recovered from a third-set deficit to beat Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) and reach the US Open semi-finals. BBC Sport reported that the two-time defending champion completed the comeback in just under two and a half hours after being taken to a deciding set for the first time at this year's tournament.

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Sabalenka made the faster start, breaking the sixth seed in her opening service game and moving 5-2 ahead. Noskova broke back when Sabalenka served for the first set, but the top seed took control of the tie-break and won it 7-1. The contest shifted in the second set as Sabalenka failed to convert three early break points and then double-faulted at 30-40 in the sixth game, allowing Noskova to establish the break that helped her force a decider.

Noskova appeared to be closing on victory when two further Sabalenka double faults contributed to another break. The Wimbledon champion then held serve to love for a 4-2 lead in the third set. Sabalenka responded by winning the next three games, keeping the match alive before it moved into a deciding tie-break. She fell 2-0 behind there but recovered to win 10-7, sealing the match with a second-serve ace.

The result extended Sabalenka's US Open winning streak to 19 matches. She has not lost at Flushing Meadows since the 2023 final and is the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach six consecutive semi-finals at the tournament. The 28-year-old has also won 10 straight US Open tie-breaks in a run dating to 2021, according to the BBC report.

Victory temporarily preserves Sabalenka's position as world number one. However, BBC Sport reported that world number two Elena Rybakina will overtake her regardless of Sabalenka's remaining results in New York if Rybakina beats Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday. Sabalenka's next opponent will be either American third seed Jessica Pegula or 26th seed Emma Navarro. She is trying to reach a fourth consecutive US Open final.

Noskova finished the quarter-final with more winners and fewer unforced errors than Sabalenka, while saving seven of the nine break points she faced. The defeat nevertheless ended her run of 11 consecutive Grand Slam singles victories. Sabalenka, meanwhile, advanced after only her second quarter-final victory since March, continuing a New York run in which she has won all six of her US Open quarter-finals.