Sabalenka thought title defence was over before US Open fightback

Aryna Sabalenka mounted a stunning comeback against sixth seed Linda Noskova at Flushing Meadows, admitting she initially feared her title defence was slipping away before securing a hard-fought three-set victory to reach the semi-finals. The world number two dropped the opening set under immense pressure on Arthur Ashe Stadium before shifting the momentum with her ferocious baseline power, ultimately prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka came into this year's final major tournament riding high after successfully defending her Australian Open crown in January, cementing her status as one of the most dominant hard-court players of her generation and continuing her remarkable streak of deep runs at Grand Slam events.

The hard-fought triumph over Noskova highlights Sabalenka's exceptional mental resilience, a trait that has defined her ascent to the upper echelons of women's tennis over the past three seasons. Having reached at least the semi-finals in New York for the fourth consecutive year, the Belarusian powerhouse boasts an impressive 22-4 match record at the tournament since 2021, including her runner-up finish last season. Her opponent, the talented young Czech player Noskova, pushed the defending champion to her absolute limits by utilizing a high-risk, aggressive strategy that yielded 32 winners, but Sabalenka's superior fitness and tactical adjustments during the pivotal second-set breaks ultimately proved decisive in the grueling two-hour encounter.

Looking ahead, Sabalenka advances to the penultimate round where she will face another formidable test in her quest to capture consecutive New York titles, a feat not accomplished in the women's singles draw since Serena Williams completed a three-peat between 2012 and 2014. As the tournament reaches its thrilling climax, the second seed remains the bookmakers' clear favorite to lift the prestigious trophy on Saturday afternoon. With her powerful serve firing at over 110 miles per hour and her baseline game hitting peak efficiency, the reigning Australian Open champion is positioning herself perfectly to claim her third career Grand Slam singles title.