Sabalenka survives Noskova battle to keep US Open three-peat bid alive

Aryna Sabalenka maintained her hopes of a third successive US Open title with a three-set victory over Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in an absorbing quarter-final – a result that retains her status as world No 1 for at least one more day.

The 28-year-old beat Noskova 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 7-6 (10-7), coming through two tie-breaks and sealing victory with a second-serve ace to set up a meeting with the winner of Tuesday night’s all-American clash between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro in the semi-finals.

Sabalenka needs to win in New York to have any hope of staying as world No 1 but will definitely lose that spot if Elena Rybakina – who defeated Sabalenka in this year’s Australian Open final – overcomes Qinwen Zheng in her quarter-final on Wednesday.

If Rybakina is beaten, then Pegula or Coco Gauff could rise to the top of the rankings should they win the tournament at Flushing Meadows on Saturday evening.

Sabalenka, world No 1 for 99 consecutive weeks, is hoping to become the first woman to win the US Open three times in a row since Serena Williams from 2012-14.

Noskova, who had forced a first-set tie-break from 5-2 down, doublefaulted at 3-3 in the final-set breaker and then slipped 7-6 down after an unfortunate net cord, before Sabalenka, who has never lost a US Open quarter-final, edged into the last four.

Sabalenka extended her career record over Noskova to 3-0 after previously seeing off the 21-year-old in the Adelaide International final in 2023 and then the Indian Wells semi-finals earlier this year.

More to follow.

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