Linda Noskova Was Up 4-2 on Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open — What Happened Next Left Her Wanting to “Forget”
NEW YORK — Linda Noskova came within touching distance of sending the world’s top-ranked woman out of the US Open.
Then Aryna Sabalenka reminded everyone why she has become so difficult to finish off in New York.
The two-time defending champion recovered from a break down in the deciding set and defeated Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6 [10-7] in Tuesday’s quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium, surviving her toughest test of the tournament and advancing to a sixth consecutive US Open semifinal.
For Noskova, the defeat hurt enough that her post-match recovery plan quickly became one of the most talked-about lines of the tournament.
“I’m going to get drunk and forget about this, I guess,” Noskova told reporters with a laugh, adding that she was “old enough to do that.”
But beneath the joke was a match that showed just how close the reigning Wimbledon champion may be to establishing herself permanently among women’s tennis’ elite.
Noskova Had Sabalenka in Serious Trouble
Sabalenka arrived in the quarterfinals without having dropped a set in New York.
Noskova changed that immediately.
After Sabalenka dominated the opening-set tiebreak, the Czech sixth seed responded by taking the second set 6-3 and carried that momentum into the decider.
Noskova eventually moved ahead 4-2 in the third set, putting the defending champion firmly under pressure.
Her serve was particularly dangerous. Reuters reported that Noskova produced 18 aces and saved seven of nine break points, numbers that underlined just how difficult she was to contain.
Sabalenka, however, refused to disappear.
She clawed her way back into the deciding set and forced the match into a first-to-10 final-set tiebreak.
Noskova again had chances, but the world No. 1 delivered when the pressure reached its highest point — ultimately sealing the match with an aggressive second-serve ace.
According to the WTA, the contest lasted 2 hours and 22 minutes.
Sabalenka’s New York Survival Instinct Strikes Again
For Sabalenka, this was about more than reaching another semifinal.
The Belarusian is pursuing a third consecutive US Open championship, something no woman has achieved since Serena Williams completed her three-title run from 2012 through 2014.
Her victory over Noskova also extended her Flushing Meadows winning streak and sent her into her 15th career Grand Slam semifinal, according to the WTA.
There is also a battle beyond the trophy.
Sabalenka entered the latter stages of the tournament fighting to preserve her world No. 1 ranking amid pressure from several challengers. The official US Open noted before the quarterfinal that Sabalenka needed to win the tournament to retain a chance of staying at No. 1.
That made the Noskova escape even more significant.
One bad stretch could have ended both her title defense and her fight for the top ranking.
Instead, she survived.
Noskova’s Loss May Be More Warning Than Setback
For Noskova, the quarterfinal exit ends an impressive Grand Slam run only weeks after the Czech star captured her first major championship at Wimbledon.
She defeated compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final in July, becoming one of the biggest breakthrough stars of the 2026 season.
Her performance in New York suggests Wimbledon may not have been an isolated breakthrough.
Noskova entered the US Open ranked a career-high No. 6 and had already survived a difficult fourth-round battle against Marta Kostyuk before pushing Sabalenka closer to defeat than anyone else had managed at this year’s tournament.
The disappointment was obvious, but Noskova said the defeat could also restore some of the competitive hunger that became harder to find after her rapid rise.
Rather than obsess over the ranking, she indicated that feeling comfortable and competitive on court remains the bigger priority.
And the evidence from Arthur Ashe Stadium was difficult to ignore.
She was not simply hanging around with the world No. 1.
She nearly beat her.
Three More Days in New York — Then Back to Work
Noskova said she planned to remain in New York for roughly three more days, spend time with friends and explore a city she enjoys before turning her attention back to tennis.
The drinks may help erase the immediate sting.
The tennis world, however, is unlikely to forget what happened quite so quickly.
Noskova arrived in New York as the newly crowned Wimbledon champion.
She leaves having shown that even on Sabalenka’s most successful Grand Slam court, the gap between the established world No. 1 and one of the sport’s fastest-rising champions may now be frighteningly small.
WWC ONE MEDIA M.J.E