Sabalenka Survives Scare, Pegula Sets Up Three-Peat Showdown

Sabalenka Claws Back From 4-2 to Keep the Three-Peat Dream Alive

The defending champion survived the closest call of her tournament so far. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka edged Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (7) in a breathless quarter-final at the US Open 2026. The match was settled in a match tiebreak that Sabalenka trailed 2-4 before reeling off five consecutive points — clinching with a second-serve ace that sent the Flushing Meadows crowd into a frenzy.

Sabalenka has won the US Open title in each of the past two years. A third consecutive triumph would be unprecedented in the Open Era, and she remains on course to attempt it after one of the most nerve-shredding victories of her career.

Noskova Made Her Work for Every Point

Noskova, who arrived at Flushing Meadows as the reigning Wimbledon champion and was widely regarded as the most dangerous floater in the women's draw, refused to play the role of a player outmatched. She absorbed Sabalenka's first-set dominance — the tiebreak went 7-1 to the world No. 1 — and came back emphatically in the second, levelling with a comfortable 6-3 win.

The decider was as tense as any match this fortnight. Noskova fought for every point, reading Sabalenka's serve better than almost any player has managed in New York this year. In the final tiebreak, the Czech took a 4-2 lead that had the crowd holding its breath. Then Sabalenka shifted gears: five straight points, finished with an unreturnable second serve. Match point, and then the ace. It was both improbable and entirely characteristic of a player who has learned to win the ugly ones.

Pegula and Navarro Write Their Own Piece of History

On the other side of the draw, Jessica Pegula ensured the women's semi-finals will feature two American players. The third seed overcame compatriot Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, completing what became the first all-American women's singles quarter-final at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams in 2015.

Pegula dropped the first set but reasserted herself convincingly in the next two. She improved her all-time head-to-head record against Navarro to a perfect 5-0, and her movement and ball-striking in the closing stages suggested a player in peak form at the right moment. The Arthur Ashe crowd — familiar with Pegula's deep runs and near-misses at this tournament — roared her through.

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A Third Successive US Open Semi-Final Between Two Rivals

The headline from Wednesday's women's quarter-finals: for the third year running, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula will meet in the US Open semi-finals. Sabalenka has won both previous encounters at this stage and gone on to claim the title each time. Pegula, who has never reached the final, will be hoping the third time brings a different result.

Their semi-final is scheduled for Thursday. The other spot in the women's last four will be filled by the winners of Wednesday's remaining quarter-finals: Elena Rybakina — who needs just one more win to become world No. 1 — faces qualifier Qinwen Zheng, while Coco Gauff takes on Mirra Andreeva. Whoever advances, the US Open 2026 women's draw is shaping up as one of the deepest and most competitive in recent memory.

Sabalenka against Pegula on Thursday: two players who know each other's games exceptionally well, meeting for the biggest prize either has had the chance to contest. Pegula needs to find something she has not found before in New York. Sabalenka, sealed by an ace on the biggest moment of the day, already looks in the right frame of mind.