NEW YORK — World number one Aryna Sabalenka proved exactly why she is the woman to beat at Flushing Meadows, surviving a grueling, three-hour marathon against Czech powerhouse Linda Noskova to secure her place in the US Open semi-finals. In a high-octane Tuesday clash that tested every facet of her mental and physical fortitude, the defending champion edged out a 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory, marking her sixth consecutive appearance in the final four of a Grand Slam.
Coming into the match, Sabalenka had appeared untouchable, carving a path through the draw without dropping a single set. However, Noskova, the Wimbledon champion and sixth seed, provided an immediate reality check. Firing 18 aces and demonstrating ice-cold composure under pressure, Noskova staved off seven of the nine break points she faced, turning the stadium into a theater of unrelenting tension.
The opening exchanges set the tone for the afternoon. Sabalenka struck early, breaking in the second game with a ferocious, angled forehand that left Noskova flat-footed. Yet, the Czech standout refused to be intimidated, clawing her way back into the contest with heavy, baseline-dictating groundstrokes to force a break in the ninth game. While Sabalenka found an extra gear to dominate the first-set tiebreak, the momentum proved volatile.
The second set saw the top seed falter, as uncharacteristic errors began to creep into her game. A pivotal double fault gifted Noskova a 4-2 lead, allowing the Czech to dictate play and level the match at one set apiece. The drama reached its zenith in the third set; frustration boiled over for Sabalenka when a string of double faults midway through the frame handed Noskova a crucial break, putting the world number one on the brink of an early exit.
True to her championship pedigree, Sabalenka refused to yield. She mounted a gritty recovery to level the score at 4-4 in the eighth game, silencing the crowd as she regained her rhythm. The deciding tiebreak became a showcase of nerves and raw power. With the finish line in sight, Sabalenka elevated her serve to its peak, ultimately sealing the grueling encounter with a clinical ace that drew a thunderous ovation from the New York faithful.
“That was about as tough as it gets,” Sabalenka admitted in her post-match interview, acknowledging the resilience required to overcome the persistent Czech challenge.
The Belarusian now turns her attention to the next hurdle in her pursuit of back-to-back titles. She will face the winner of the highly anticipated all-American quarter-final between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro. For now, however, Sabalenka has cemented her status as a perennial force at the US Open, having navigated the most significant obstacle of her campaign to keep her title defense alive.
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