US Open: Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula book semifinal spot

New York: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka kept her bid for a third consecutive US Open title alive after rallying from a 4-2 deficit in the deciding set to defeat Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) and reach the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.The top seed sealed the hard-fought quarterfinal victory in two hours and 22 minutes, extending her winning streak at the US Open to 18 matches, according to the WTA website. Sabalenka is now through to her sixth consecutive US Open semifinal and 15th Grand Slam semifinal overall. She is two victories away from becoming the first woman since Serena Williams, who won three straight US Open titles from 2012 to 2014, to achieve the feat in New York.Noskova produced 46 winners, including 18 aces, and saved seven of nine break points. Sabalenka responded with 42 winners and 12 aces, clinching the match on her first match point with a second-serve ace out wide.The victory marked Sabalenka's first win over a Top 10 opponent since defeating Coco Gauff in the Miami final in March and her sixth such victory of the 2026 season.It was also Sabalenka's first three-set win at a Grand Slam this year after she lost to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final and Diana Shnaider in the Roland Garros quarterfinals.Sabalenka also ended Noskova's six-match winning streak in third-set tiebreaks and improved her own record in deciding-set tiebreaks this season to 2-1.The match was the first meeting between reigning Grand Slam champions since the Miami final and the first clash between two Top 10 players at this year's US Open.Sabalenka will next face either third seed Jessica Pegula or 26th seed Emma Navarro in the semifinals. A meeting with Pegula would be the 14th encounter between the two players, with Sabalenka having defeated the American at the US Open in each of the last two years.Jessica Pegula beats Emma Navarro to reach third consecutive semifinalThird seed Jessica Pegula continued her impressive run at the US Open, defeating compatriot Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an all-American quarterfinal to reach the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the third consecutive year.Pegula, 32, overcame a slow start and a set down to complete the comeback at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She will next face world No. 1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, according to US Open website.Navarro, 25, made the stronger start and took the opening set 6-3 after Pegula struggled with her serve. The third seed committed three double faults in one game as she fell 2-4 behind.Pegula responded strongly in the second set, although both players continued to trade breaks early on. With the score level at 4-4, Navarro committed a double fault while serving at 30-30, handing Pegula her first set point. The American converted to level the match at one set apiece.Pegula then took control in the deciding set. After holding serve to move 3-2 ahead, she broke Navarro for a 4-2 lead and maintained her advantage to close out the match 6-3.The victory added to Pegula's strong 2026 season, during which she has won titles in Dubai and Charleston and reached three other finals in Cincinnati, Washington and Berlin. She also reached the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year.For Navarro, the defeat ended her hopes of returning to the US Open semifinals after her breakthrough run to the last four in 2024.Pegula will now face a familiar opponent in Sabalenka. She has a 4-9 record against the world No. 1 and has lost their last two US Open meetings, including last year's semifinal and the 2024 final.Pegula is also among four players in contention for the world No. 1 ranking. She would claim the top spot if she wins the US Open title and Elena Rybakina fails to reach the semifinals.At age 32, Pegula was also the oldest of the elite eight in New York—and if she takes the title here, she’d be the second-oldest player to win her first Grand Slam championship, following Flavia Pennetta, who was 33 when she claimed the crown at the 2015 US Open.