Aryna Sabalenka was far from her best and looked increasingly wobbly as Linda Noskova pushed the defending champion to the limit in the US Open quarter-finals. But when the match entered its decisive moments, the world No. 1 found just enough composure to escape with a 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) victory and keep her three-peat dream alive at Flushing Meadows with a place in the semi-finals.
The Czech had lost both of her previous meetings with Sabalenka without taking a set, including a 6-3, 6-4 defeat in the Indian Wells semi-finals earlier this year. Sabalenka therefore held a 2-0 head-to-head advantage before Tuesday. This time, however, the Wimbledon champion looked a completely different proposition.
Also Read: US Open: Stunned Iga Swiatek loses cool at press after tough loss to Qinwen Zheng
Noskova had already shown her resilience in New York, surviving a dramatic fourth-round battle against Marta Kostyuk after saving five match points. The sixth seed carried that belief into Arthur Ashe Stadium and repeatedly dragged Sabalenka into uncomfortable territory.
NOSKOVA REFUSES TO LET SABALENKA SETTLE
Sabalenka made the stronger start, breaking Noskova and moving 5-2 ahead, but the Czech immediately fought back with three straight games. The first set eventually went to a tie-break, where Sabalenka produced her best tennis, racing to a 6-0 lead before taking it 7-1.
The second set belonged to Noskova. She moved 4-2 ahead after a Sabalenka double fault and protected her advantage when the world No. 1 created a break-point opportunity. An ace sealed the set 6-3, handing Sabalenka her first dropped set of the tournament.
The third set was even more dramatic. Sabalenka dropped serve as Noskova moved 4-2 ahead and the Czech then earned three break points at 40-0. Sabalenka appeared visibly frustrated, even dropping her racket, but saved one chance before eventually losing serve to a forced forehand error.
Sabalenka immediately hit back, creating three break points of her own and levelling at 4-4 when Noskova committed a forced forehand error.
SABALENKA KEEPS HER NERVE
Neither player could find another break, sending the contest into a deciding tie-break. Sabalenka led 2-0 and later 6-3, but Noskova again refused to go away, cutting the deficit to 5-6.
This time, though, Sabalenka delivered the final blow, closing out the match with an ace.
The victory sent Sabalenka into her sixth consecutive US Open semi-final and her 15th at a Grand Slam. She is now only the second woman after Serena Williams to reach six straight US Open semi-finals; Williams achieved the feat from 2011 to 2016.
It also extended Sabalenka’s US Open winning streak to 18 matches. More importantly, after being pushed to the brink by a Wimbledon champion who had never previously taken a set off her, the world No. 1 remains two wins away from completing a historic three-peat.
– Ends
Source link
[ad_3]
