US Open 2026 Results: Aryna Sabalenka Fights Back Against Linda Noskova to Keep Title Defence Alive - BBC Sport
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Sabalenka Fights Back to Keep US Open Defence Alive
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Aryna Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, with two titles apiece at the Australian Open and US Open
By: Elizabeth Botcherby BBC Sport journalist
Published: 2 hours ago
Aryna 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.
Taken to a deciding set for the first time in this year's tournament, the two-time defending champion trailed 4-2 in the third set and later 2-0 in the tie-break before recovering to close out a 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 7-6 (10-7) win in a little under two and a half hours.
It was the 28-year-old's 19th consecutive win at the tournament, having not tasted defeat since the 2023 final, while she becomes the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach six successive semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
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.
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.
The Belarusian has a history of letting her emotions get the better of her, most recently in her quarter-final defeat from a set up at the French Open. However, 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.
"I'm speechless right now. I was pushing to the limit in this match, especially in the third set," said Sabalenka. "I honestly thought that that's it, the match is over, but probably that's what helped me to feel loose and go after my shots. [I'm] super happy to get the win."
Fighting to stay No 1 - Sabalenka's US Open mission
Published: 30 August
Listen: Sabalenka beats Noskova in epic, and do we need five sets?