World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her bid for a third straight US Open title with a thrilling victory over Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
The two-time defending champion faced a strong challenge at Arthur Ashe Stadium but managed to win a close three-set battle. Sabalenka eventually defeated Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) in a match that lasted more than two hours.
The victory sent Sabalenka into the US Open semifinals for the sixth consecutive year.
A Difficult Battle From the Start
The match was closely fought from the opening set. Both players showed powerful tennis and refused to give away easy points.
Sabalenka managed to take the first set in a tiebreak, winning it comfortably 7-1. However, Noskova responded strongly in the second set.
The Wimbledon champion increased the pressure on Sabalenka and won the second set 6-3 to level the match.
Sabalenka Shows Mental Strength
The deciding third set became the most dramatic part of the match.
Sabalenka found herself under pressure but remained calm and continued fighting for every point. The set eventually went to another tiebreak, where both players had opportunities to take control.
Sabalenka finally held her nerve to win the tiebreak 9-7 and complete the victory.
Her ability to recover from difficult moments once again showed why she has become one of the most successful players at the US Open.
18 Straight Wins in New York
The victory extended Sabalenka’s winning streak at the US Open to 18 consecutive matches.
Her remarkable run in New York has made her one of the dominant players at the tournament in recent years. She has now reached the semifinal stage in six straight appearances at Flushing Meadows.
This consistency has placed her among the leading contenders for another Grand Slam title.
Chasing a Historic Third Title
Sabalenka is now just two victories away from winning her third consecutive US Open championship.
If she successfully defends her title again, she could achieve something that has not been done in women’s tennis for more than a decade.
The last woman to win three consecutive US Open titles was Serena Williams, who achieved the feat from 2014 to 2016.
Sabalenka therefore has an opportunity to join a very small group of players who have dominated the tournament for several years.
Another Grand Slam Milestone
The victory also marked another major achievement in Sabalenka’s career.
The Belarusian has now reached her 15th Grand Slam semifinal. Her regular appearances in the later stages of major tournaments show her continued success at the highest level of women’s tennis.
She has developed into one of the most consistent players on the Grand Slam circuit.
Noskova’s Strong Performance
Although Noskova lost the match, she produced an impressive performance against the world No. 1.
The Wimbledon champion showed that she could compete with one of the strongest players in the world. After losing the first-set tiebreak, she came back strongly and won the second set.
She also pushed Sabalenka all the way in the deciding set and final tiebreak.
Her performance is likely to give her confidence as she continues her career on the Grand Slam stage.
Sabalenka’s Title Dream Continues
Sabalenka now moves into the semifinal with her title hopes still alive.
She will need to produce another strong performance if she wants to win two more matches and complete a historic third straight US Open championship.
The pressure will be high, but Sabalenka’s recent record at Flushing Meadows shows that she is comfortable playing on the biggest stage.
After surviving one of the toughest matches of her tournament, the world No. 1 remains firmly in the race for another US Open title.