TENNIS – Aryna Sabalenka survived the biggest test of her title defence against sixth seed Linda Noskova to reach the US Open semi-finals yesterday, as fans awaited an all-American ‘battle of the billionaires’ later in the programme.
Second seed Carlos Alcaraz has defied concerns surrounding his long injury layoff and is due up in the final match of the night at Flushing Meadows against eighth seed Ben Shelton.
Sabalenka had not dropped a set this year in New York but found herself pushed to the limit in a 7-6(1) 3-6 7-6(10-7) win over Noskova, recovering from a mid-match dip in her form to reach her sixth consecutive US Open semi-final.
The highly anticipated meeting between the Czech Wimbledon champion and the US Open titleholder lived up to all expectations and the Belarusian clinched victory with a gutsy ace from a second serve.
“What a battle,” said Sabalenka, who added to her reputation as one of the hardest players to beat in tiebreaks.
“I’m speechless right now because I was pushing myself to the limit.”
A quarter-final meeting between US fan favourite Frances Tiafoe and his compatriot Alex Michelsen was underway on Arthur Ashe Stadium, as both bid to end a 23-year American men’s drought at the major.
Michelsen, who is younger than that dry spell at 22 years old, has largely flown under the radar at Flushing Meadows and is hoping to extend his deepest run at the majors, while the veteran Tiafoe is eyeing a third trip to the penultimate stage.
The match was the first of two all-American contests at Flushing Meadows yesterday.
Shelton will need the US fans’ full support against fearsome titleholder Alcaraz, who has lost just one of his last 32 matches at the majors beginning with his title run at last year’s Roland Garros.
The American is vying for his second US Open semi-final berth.
Home favourite Coco Gauff and world number two Elena Rybakina sailed into the US Open quarter-finals, while China’s Zheng Qinwen mounted another extraordinary fightback to upset six-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
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