Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka battled back from a 4-2 deficit in the final set to defeat sixth seed Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) on Tuesday at the U.S. Open, securing her sixth consecutive semifinal appearance in Flushing Meadows and preserving her title defense.
The quarterfinal clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium delivered nearly two and a half hours of unfiltered power tennis between major champions. Sabalenka, chasing a third consecutive U.S. Open title, found herself on the brink of an early exit before staging a gritty comeback that tested both her physical limits and her composure.
How Sabalenka Survived a Deciding-Set Deficit Against Noskova
Sabalenka began the match in cruise control, breaking Noskova’s opening service game and racing to a 5-2 lead in the first set. Although the Czech sixth seed fought back to force a tie-break, Sabalenka dominated the breaker 7-1 to take the opening frame. Momentum swung dramatically in the second set as Sabalenka struggled with her serve—committing four double faults across the match and wasting multiple break points—allowing Noskova to level the contest.
The tension peaked in the third set. After trading early breaks, Sabalenka served two double faults in the fifth game, handing Noskova a break and a 4-2 lead. Trailing 4-2 and 0-15, the top-seeded Belarusian fell to her knees, bowed her head, and screamed in frustration before changing her racket in an effort to regain her touch.
“I honestly thought that that’s it, the match is over. Probably that’s what helped me to feel loose and go after my shots. [I’m] super happy to get the win.”
Aryna Sabalenka, via Sports.yahoo.com
Sabalenka won the next three games to level at 4-4, ultimately pushing the match into a decisive ten-point tie-break. She fell behind 2-0 in the breaker before Noskova double-faulted to make it 4-3, giving the defending champion the opening she needed. Sabalenka closed out the 10-7 tie-break with a nerveless second-serve ace, sealing her 19th consecutive win at the tournament.
Statistical Battleground: Winners, Aces, and Tie-Break Dominance
The numbers from Arthur Ashe Stadium reflect an exceptionally close contest where Noskova arguably matched the world number one stroke for stroke. The Wimbledon champion fired 18 aces and saved seven of nine break points while finishing with 46 winners to Sabalenka’s 42. Noskova also committed fewer unforced errors and ended a run of 11 consecutive singles wins at Grand Slams, having claimed her maiden major title earlier this season at the All England Club.
Sabalenka countered with punishing baseline power and supreme tie-break pedigree. The victory marked her 10th successive tie-break win at the U.S. Open in a streak dating back to 2021.
“Some of her [bad form] has been in lesser tournaments, where her intensity and concentration hasn’t been quite as good. But when you face someone the quality of your opponent, you have to stand and deliver. Her tie-break record is absolutely phenomenal.”
Tim Henman, Sky Sports Tennis analyst
Rankings Implications and the World Number One Race
Beyond the immediate stakes of the trophy defense, the quarterfinal carried massive ranking consequences. Sabalenka entered the tournament having held the world number one ranking for 99 consecutive weeks. A defeat against Noskova would have immediately cleared the path for challengers, but her survival keeps her mathematical hold on the top spot alive for at least another day.
The battle for number one now pivots to Wednesday’s schedule. World number two Elena Rybakina faces Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals. If Rybakina defeats Zheng Qinwen, the Kazakhstani player will usurp Sabalenka and become world number one for the first time. Should Rybakina lose, Sabalenka can secure her retention of the top spot by capturing a third consecutive U.S. Open crown.
Next Up: Semifinal Opponents and Historical Milestones
By reaching the final four, Sabalenka becomes the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach six successive semifinals at Flushing Meadows. She is also aiming to emulate Williams’s historical feat from 2012–14 by winning three U.S. Open titles in a row.
In the semifinals, Sabalenka will face the winner of the all-American night quarterfinal between third seed Jessica Pegula and 26th seed Emma Navarro. With the draw narrowing and her toughest test of the fortnight successfully navigated, the world number one has a brief window to recover before stepping back onto the court.
