Aryna Sabalenka Edges Linda Noskova to Keep US Open Three-Peat Alive/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Aryna Sabalenka defeated Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) to keep her US Open three-peat hopes alive. The two-time defending champion advanced to her sixth consecutive semifinal in New York, where she will meet Jessica Pegula. Ben Shelton later eliminated Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set match that ended at a tournament-record 3:33 a.m.
Quick Look
- Sabalenka rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the deciding set.
- The world No. 1 reached her sixth straight US Open semifinal.
- Sabalenka will face No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula.
- Pegula defeated Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
- Sabalenka’s No. 1 ranking remains under threat from Elena Rybakina.
- Frances Tiafoe came back from two sets down to defeat Alex Michelsen.
- Ben Shelton upset defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in five sets.
- Shelton and Tiafoe will meet in an all-American men’s semifinal.
- The Shelton-Alcaraz match finished at 3:33 a.m., the latest ending in US Open history.
Deep Look
Sabalenka survives a three-set thriller
NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka preserved her hopes of winning a third consecutive US Open championship by overcoming Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova in a dramatic women’s quarterfinal Tuesday.
The top-ranked Sabalenka prevailed 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7), rallying after falling behind in the deciding set and completing the victory with a second-serve ace.
The result sent her into the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the sixth consecutive year and marked her 15th Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
“What a battle. What an incredible player she is and I’m speechless right now because I was pushing myself to the limit in this match, especially in the third set,” Sabalenka said. “I honestly thought that that’s it, the match is over and probably that’s what helped me to kind of like, I don’t know, feel loose and just go after my shots.”
Noskova takes control of deciding set
Noskova, the tournament’s No. 6 seed, put Sabalenka in danger of her earliest US Open elimination since the second round in 2020.
After splitting the first two sets, Noskova broke serve and established a 4-2 advantage in the third. Sabalenka held in the following game and then delivered one of her strongest stretches of the match, breaking Noskova without dropping a point to level the score at 4-4.
“I just felt at some point in the third set she was definitely serving better than me and putting so much pressure on me,” Sabalenka said. “But I’m glad that I kind of threw that thought away and I was able to focus point by point and, like, literally just trying to build something bigger in that moment.
“I got, not lucky, but I’m happy the way I broke her serve at 3-4. I think I really played a great intensity level of tennis, and that really gave me so much confidence that I still can get the win in this match.”
Match decided by final-set tiebreak
Sabalenka changed rackets during the third set as she tried to regain control of her shots.
Noskova moved ahead 2-0 in the deciding match tiebreak, but Sabalenka took the lead after the Czech player double-faulted to make the score 4-3. Sabalenka captured the next two points to establish a cushion and eventually closed the contest with an ace.
“Being a break up in the third set, it’s not very easy. Also having a little break at the start of the tiebreak in the third one, as well, it’s frustrating, obviously,” Noskova said.
“But at the same time, Aryna, she played the best tennis that she could in those moments, which didn’t really make it easy for me.”
Noskova finished with 46 winners and 18 aces, compared with Sabalenka’s 42 winners and 12 aces. Both players used their power to shorten rallies, while Sabalenka also displayed her court coverage when chasing Noskova’s drop shots.
Noskova falls short of rare major achievement
Noskova was trying to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to follow a Wimbledon title by reaching the US Open semifinals in the same season.
The match concluded her best run at Flushing Meadows. Before winning Wimbledon, Noskova’s only previous Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance had come at the 2024 Australian Open.
Her New York performance followed her victory over fellow Czech Karolina Muchova in the Wimbledon final.
Sabalenka recovers from difficult summer
Sabalenka entered the US Open following several disappointing results.
She lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon and then suffered fourth-round defeats at the hard-court tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.
The two-time defending US Open champion rediscovered her form in New York, reaching the quarterfinals without dropping a set. Her victory over Noskova extended an unbeaten run at the tournament dating to her loss against Coco Gauff in the 2023 final.
Pegula awaits in the semifinals
Sabalenka will next face third-seeded Jessica Pegula, who rallied past No. 26 Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an all-American quarterfinal.
Navarro broke Pegula’s serve twice to win the opening set. Pegula recovered and took control late in the deciding set, winning four consecutive games after Navarro had broken for a 2-1 advantage.
The victory secured Pegula’s latest meeting with an opponent who has repeatedly blocked her at the US Open. Sabalenka defeated Pegula in the 2024 championship match and again in last year’s semifinals after losing the opening set.
“To me, I think it’s fun to look at the rivalry we’ve had,” Pegula said. “She’s gotten me here the last couple of years. I have been able to beat her a few times, maybe on a smaller stage, so I think that’s going to be kind of a hurdle for me to get over.”
Pegula’s comeback and semifinal place were confirmed by the tournament’s official results.
No. 1 ranking remains at stake
Sabalenka needed to defeat Noskova to preserve any possibility of retaining the No. 1 women’s ranking.
She has occupied the top position for 99 consecutive weeks but will lose it if second-ranked Elena Rybakina defeats Zheng Qinwen in Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
If Rybakina loses, Sabalenka can retain the ranking by winning the US Open championship.
Tiafoe completes a major comeback
The first men’s quarterfinal also required a deciding match tiebreak.
No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe rallied from two sets down to defeat Alex Michelsen 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6).
The comeback sent Tiafoe into his third US Open semifinal. His victory contributed to an exceptionally long day of matches inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The extended day session delayed the start of the Pegula-Navarro match by nearly 90 minutes beyond the night session’s usual 7 p.m. starting time.
Shelton dethrones Alcaraz in record late finish
Ben Shelton then ended defending champion Carlos Alcaraz’s title reign with a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory.
The match began shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday and ended at 3:33 a.m. Wednesdaymaking it the latest-finishing match in US Open history.
The victory was Shelton’s first against a top-three opponent and advanced the No. 8 seed into an all-American semifinal against Tiafoe.
More on Sports