World’s top-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka faced a tough challenge in the tournament but managed to defeat Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6(1) 3-6 7-6(10-7) on Tuesday, securing her spot in the U.S. Open semifinals for the sixth consecutive year. Sabalenka, the defending champion, had not lost a set until facing the Czech sixth seed, who showcased a strong performance with 18 aces and saving seven out of nine break points. However, Noskova faltered when leading in the final set after breaking Sabalenka’s serve.
Sabalenka, aiming for her third consecutive title at Flushing Meadows in New York, will now face the winner of the upcoming match between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, both American players. Reflecting on her intense match with Noskova, Sabalenka expressed admiration for her opponent’s skills and described the battle as challenging, pushing her to her limits.
The Belarusian player managed to break Noskova in the second game with a powerful forehand shot, but the Czech quickly retaliated with strong groundstrokes, breaking back in the ninth game. Sabalenka, known for her tiebreak prowess with a record of 21 consecutive wins earlier this year, dominated the opening-set tiebreak. However, she struggled in the second set, facing difficulty in handling Noskova’s serve and making unforced errors, allowing the Czech to take a lead.
As the match progressed, Noskova appeared to be on course for an upset victory, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s errors. Despite facing setbacks, Sabalenka regained her composure in the third set and managed to level the playing field. The decisive tiebreak saw Sabalenka back in control, ultimately securing the win with an ace and acknowledging the support from the fans for boosting her performance.
In another match, defending champion Gabriela Dabrowski and her Brazilian partner, Luisa Stefani, advanced to the U.S. Open women’s doubles semifinals after defeating the seventh-seeded pair from China, Jiang Xinyu and Zhang Shuai, with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Dabrowski, a two-time U.S. Open doubles champion, will face the winner of the upcoming match between Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia, and the American duo of Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger. With no Canadians left in the singles draws, Dabrowski continues to shine in the doubles competition at the U.S. Open.