Aryna Sabalenka scored a must-win victory on Tuesday to salvage her US Open title hat-trick chances and her world No. 1 status as she fought past Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) to reach her sixth consecutive semi-final at the event.

The top seed is fighting to maintain her status while working to lift a third straight title in New York after 99 weeks on world No. 1. She is under threat from Elena Rybakina, who could knock her out of the top spot with a quarter-final win later over China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

Sabalenka delivered a timely second serve ace on match point against Wimbledon holder Noskova to end nearly two and a half hours of struggle between the Grand Slam winners in which Sabalenka lost her first set of this edition.

“What a battle, what an incredible player she is, I’m speechless,” the winner said. “I had to push myself to the limit.

“I’m super happy to get this win. These tight matches have big pressure. But a win helps to boost my confidence, energy and motivation. 

“I’m glad I made an ace on match point, it shows I’m ready to fight.”:

Sabalenka snuck out the opening set after being broken while serving for it 5-3 but managed to dominate a tiebreaker for the early lead.

But Noskova fired back in the second, running out to 5-2 and levelling the quarter-final with ace on her fourth set point.

Both women lifted in the third, exchanging service breaks, with Sabalenka winning three straight games to 4-5. The pair stayed level until the deciding set match tiebreak where Sabalenka managed to squeze through for the win.

“In the second set, I thought that was it,” she said. “The match seemed over but I played loose and went for my shots.

With trophies here in 2024 and 2025, Sabalenka is hoping to become the first since Serena Williams to win three New York titles in a row. 

Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka makes great escape – by ISF Ltd

Ukrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova has no mental bandwidth left for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics as she struggles with her tennis career and the Russian war on her homeland.

 “Every competition is important, every opportunity to say something about

Ukraine..” she said after challenging Australian Open holder Madison Keys before taking a 7-6 (6), 6-1 loss.

The daughter of a soldier fighting the war takes the opportunity to spread the word about her beleaguered country at any and every opportunity

“It’s sad, because this war (from February, 2022) is very long, and I think people are losing the attention after so many years.

“But now in Ukraine we don’t have electricity. In my apartment, I have no electricity, no water, no heat. That’s what’s going on. Every opportunity to say about this, I believe it’s very important. 

“And, of course, Olympics, it’s Olympics. What can I say more?”

The 25-year-old put out a plea for help: “I would like to share the way people can help Ukrainians, but we will need — if you want to ask me about this, we will need to do it outside of the tournament press. 

“I really know and can share how people can help to protect our civilians, our kids, to protect me specifically, because I’m practicing in Ukraine. I did preparation for this tournament in Ukraine, and during the preparation, I was hearing the explosion. 

“There was explosion just near my home, and a drone hitted the home just across the road. My apartment was literally shaking because of the explosion.”

Main photo:-Oleksandra Oliynykova – by Jimmie48/WTA

Novak Djokovic is aiming to keep his top form for a few more seasons, with the Serb dreaming of a career finale at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The former world No. 1 Serb who will start his 2026 season in Adelaide prior to the January 18 start of the Australian Open, told a sports conference in Dubai of his master plan.

“I do want to keep on going,” the 38-year-old said. “I’ve said LA Olympics, 2028, is kind of a guiding star, but honestly, there’s no limit. So let’s see…

“I just keep going. I love hitting the tennis ball, and I love competing. I was saying to the guys that I was talking to, the greats in football, that it’s really about passion and love.

“As long as you really feel like you’re playing on a high level and your body holds on, why not?”

The winner of 24 Grand Slam singles titles has not owned a major in two years (2023 US Open) and notched trophies last season at 250 events in Geneva and Athens.

In a Tour now dominated by young guns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the veteran is having his troubles in keeping up.

He managed semi-finals of all four Slams in 2025 and claimed a 100th career title with his Geneva success last May, one of only 13 events he played last season.