Sabalenka Survives Noskova Thriller to Set Up Pegula Rematch

Aryna Sabalenka survived her sternest test of this year's US Open, recovering from a break down in the deciding set to defeat Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) in Tuesday's quarterfinal. The victory sent the world No. 1 into the women's semifinals at Flushing Meadows for a sixth consecutive year.

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BBC Sport reported that Sabalenka had to fight back against the sixth-seeded Czech after Noskova forced a deciding set. The official US Open account said the two-time defending champion trailed 4-2 in the third before turning the match around. Sabalenka eventually closed it out in a match tiebreak after two hours and 22 minutes.

Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, stayed with Sabalenka through the opening set before losing its tiebreak decisively. She then took the second set and carried that momentum into the third, earning the first break. Sabalenka recovered the deficit and, according to Sky Sports, sealed the contest with a second-serve ace.

Jessica Pegula completed the semifinal lineup later on Tuesday by rallying past fellow American Emma Navarro. Pegula lost the opening set but recovered to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, setting up another meeting with Sabalenka.

Their semifinal will reprise the 2024 US Open final, when Sabalenka beat Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win her first New York singles title. The official tournament site identifies Pegula as the 2024 runner-up and the No. 3 seed in this year's draw. Sabalenka has since successfully defended the title and now remains in contention for a third straight championship.

The run also places Sabalenka alongside Serena Williams as the most recent women to reach six consecutive US Open semifinals. Williams did so from 2011 through 2016. Sabalenka enters the rematch on a 19-match winning streak at the tournament, while Pegula returns to the last four after overturning her first-set deficit against Navarro.