NEW YORK — In a quarterfinal that offered a contrast in styles, it was the intense Aryna Sabalenka and her obvious force that overcame laid-back Linda Nosková and her stealthy power Tuesday on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The defending U.S. Open champion knocked off this year's Wimbledon champion 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7), by reversing the narrative of her season since April.
When Nosková's unflappability under pressure left the world No. 1 facing a 4-2 deficit in the third set — as well as the loss of her ranking — Sabalenka did not spiral to defeat, as she has done several times the past few months.
Instead, she found the indomitable poise and unstoppable power that has carried her to the top of the sport, advancing to a sixth consecutive U.S. Open semifinal.
She is sure to play an American — either the No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula or the No. 26 seed Emma Navarro — and she has the opportunity to maintain her status at the top of the game.
Sabalenka was in control early on. In the first set, Nosková worked her way back from 5-2 down to make it 5-5 then force a tiebreak, but her hard work was for naught.
#champion
The defending U.S. Open champion knocked off this year's Wimbledon champion 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7), by reversing the narrative of her season since April.
When Nosková's unflappability under pressure left the world No. 1 facing a 4-2 deficit in the third set — as well as the loss of her ranking — Sabalenka did not spiral to defeat, as she has done several times the past few months.
Instead, she found the indomitable poise and unstoppable power that has carried her to the top of the sport, advancing to a sixth consecutive U.S. Open semifinal.
She is sure to play an American — either the No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula or the No. 26 seed Emma Navarro — and she has the opportunity to maintain her status at the top of the game.
Sabalenka was in control early on. In the first set, Nosková worked her way back from 5-2 down to make it 5-5 then force a tiebreak, but her hard work was for naught.
#champion
8 days ago
