Sabalenka survives Noskova battle to keep US Open three-peat bid alive
Sabalenka survives Noskova battle to keep US Open three-peat bid alive. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aryna Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, with two titles apiece at the Australian Open and US OpenByElizabeth BotcherbyBBC Sport journalistPublished3 hours agoAryna Sabalenka thought she had lost her US Open crown before leaving herself "speechless" as she battled back to beat Linda Noskova in three sets and advance to the semi-finals.
What happened
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. Skip to content US Open 2026: Aryna Sabalenka edges into semi-finals with three-set win over Linda Noskova in thriller Aryna Sabalenka retains world No 1 spot with battling win – but will lose it on Wednesday if Elena Rybakina reaches semi-finals; Sabalenka is looking to become first woman to win US Open three times in row since Serena Williams between 2012 and 2014; watch tournament live on Sky Sports Tuesday 8 September 2026 20:48, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights from the US Open Open Quarter-final match between Aryna Sabalenka and Linda Noskova 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.
Skip to content Menu Home | Sabalenka survives Noskova test to reach US Open semis Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus Image Credits : Reuters Reuters 8 September 2026, 20:26 [SAST] World number one Aryna Sabalenka survived her toughest test of the tournament to beat Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6 7-6 (10-7) on Tuesday and reach the US Open semi-finals for a sixth consecutive year. Image: Sabalenka is aiming to win a third straight US Open title 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, double faulted at 3-3 in the final-set breaker and then slipped 8-6 down after an unfortunate net cord, before Sabalenka, who has never lost a US Open quarter-final and won her last 10 tie-breaks at the event, edged into the last four. Image: Sabalenka has never lost a US Open quarter-final The first-set tie-break, however, was completely one-sided with Noskova's only point coming via an ace out wide as her double fault and Sabalenka's power settled things.
The second breaker was far more competitive than the first, yet Sabalenka came out on the right side of it once again to stay on course for a three-peat.
The wider picture
"Fighting to stay No 1 – Sabalenka's US Open missionPublished30 AugustListen: Sabalenka beats Noskova in epic, and do we need five sets? Sabalenka began the match in cruise control, breaking in sixth seed Noskova's opening service game and racing into a 5-2 lead, before being broken as she served for the set. Sabalenka sprinted through the opening set tiebreak before a double fault gave Noskova a 4-2 lead in the second set. 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.
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. Noskova will not become the first woman to secure back-to-back Grand Slams since Naomi Osaka claimed the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open after seeing her 11-match winning streak in majors come to an end. Image: Noskova was hoping to become the first back-to-back Grand Slam winner since Naomi Osaka in 2021 Sabalenka: I thought the match was overAryna Sabalenka, speaking in her on-court interview:"Thinking the match is over is probably what helped me to feel loose, go for my shots.
"How Sabalenka fought past NoskovaSabalenka broke Noskova to love in the second game of the match en route to a 5-2 lead, only to them lose four of the next five games as her Czech opponent fought back to 6-6.
What has been reported
Sabalenka saved break point with an ace in her subsequent service game before Noskova went on to set up a deciding set by converting a fourth set point. Noskova became favourite when she broke Sabalenka in the fifth game of the third set, with the world No 1 twice double-faulting in that game, but Sabalenka dug deep to level the match at 4-4 before the enthralled spectators were treated to another tie-break. Asked if she would be happy if she retained her US Open title but Rybakina replaced her at the head of the standings, Sabalenka said: "I'll be more than happy.
"I'm just super happy that I put myself in the position where I have chance to go for the three-peat, even though I'm still far away from that. "Sabalenka will next face either American third seed Jessica Pegula or her compatriot Emma Navarro, seeded 26th, as she bids to reach a fourth consecutive US Open final. But as in her previous match against Taylor Townsend, when she had her serve broken four times and trailed 3-1 in the second set, Sabalenka showed impressive composure to emerge victorious against Wimbledon champion Noskova, suggesting she may have turned a corner.
She wasted three early in the second set before conceding a break in the sixth game with a double fault at 30-40 as Noskova forced a decider. After hitting two more double faults to be broken for a third time, she looked down and out after Noskova held to love for a 4-2 lead, but won the next three games to turn the match around.
What happens next
The 28-year-old beat Noskova 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 7-6 (10-7), coming through two tie-breaks – and a 4-2 deficit in the final set – as she sealed 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. US Open scores, results and schedule | US Open drawsDownload Sky Sports app for analysis, news and videoLatest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract with NOWIf 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.
I am super happy to get this win – a tough match, tough battle. Noskova staved off break points early in the second set, including in the first game, and carved out two of her own on the Sabelanka serve at 3-2 up, taking the second of those when her rival produced an untimely double fault. Henman: Sabalenka comes up with the big shots Image: Sabalenka has held onto her No 1 world ranking for at least one more day Sky Sports Tennis' Tim Henman on Aryna Sabalenka:"Some of her [bad form] has been in lesser tournaments, where her intensity and concentration hasn't been quite as good.
"Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports until Sunday September 13. Victory also sees her temporarily keep hold of her world number one ranking, though she will be overtaken at the top regardless of how she fares in the remainder the tournament if world number two Elena Rybakina beats Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across skysports.com, bbc.co.uk, sabcnews.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.