US OPEN. New York. Women¨s Draw. Photo Courtesy USTA
Aryna Sabalenka took another major step toward history at the US Open, surviving a tremendous battle against Linda Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The world No. 1 was pushed to the limit by the Czech, who played an outstanding match and even led 4-2 in the deciding set, but Sabalenka once again showed why she is the defending champion and one of the toughest competitors on the WTA Tour.
The match was decided in a dramatic final-set tiebreak, where Sabalenka managed the pressure better and closed out the victory with an ace on match point. It was another example of the mental evolution of the Belarusian, who has learned to win even when her powerful game is not at its best.
With this victory, Sabalenka reached the US Open semifinals for the sixth consecutive year and kept alive her dream of becoming the third woman in the Open Era, after Chris Evert and Serena Williams, to win the tournament three years in a row. She has also now won 10 consecutive US Open tiebreaks, an impressive reflection of her ability to perform under extreme pressure.
Noskova leaves the tournament with enormous credit after pushing the world No. 1 to the limit, but once again Sabalenka found a way when it mattered most. In New York, the champion is still standing—and the dream of a historic three-peat remains alive.