Aryna Sabalenka has reached the US Open semifinals after a dramatic 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) victory over Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova on Tuesday. The match, which lasted over two hours, saw Sabalenka overcome a resilient Noskova to advance.
Sabalenka, who held a commanding lead in the first set at 5-2, saw her advantage chipped away by Noskova, who has gained a reputation for comeback victories. Noskova forced a tiebreak in the first set and then capitalized on a double fault by Sabalenka to secure the second set. The third set ultimately required another tiebreak to decide the winner.
Despite the intense competition and a mid-match decision by tournament organizers to close the roof for shade, Sabalenka maintained her composure. She expressed her satisfaction with her physical condition, noting that her body could handle the demands of such challenging matches.
"I have to say that knowing that physically my body can handle these matches again, I'm super happy with that," Sabalenka stated after the match. She acknowledged that close contests provide significant confidence and motivation. "Of course, tight matches give you so much confidence that you're back, and you're ready to do anything it takes to get the win. So this match definitely gives me boost of energy and motivation."
Sabalenka, 28, acknowledged the emotional toll of the match, stating, "It shows I’m ready to fight." She indicated a willingness to trade her current world No. 1 ranking for the tournament trophy, underscoring her determination to win at Flushing Meadows. This victory comes after a recent streak where she lost three matches after leading in the first set and two after winning the second set.
The win keeps Sabalenka on track for a potential "three-peat" in New York. Her previous streak of 21 consecutive tiebreaks won was broken at Wimbledon by Naomi Osaka, but she demonstrated resilience in overcoming Noskova in two crucial tiebreaks at the US Open.