Sabalenka fights back to keep US Open defence alive

Pegula, who also reached the Australian Open final in January, lost two of her opening three service games in a slow start but was much improved to take a must-win second set.

Pegula beats 'demons' to set up Sabalenka showdown Jessica Pegula can become world number one but must win the US Open and hope Elena Rybakina does not reach the semi-finals Pegula's frustration was clear as she grappled with 26th seed Navarro and her own inconsistency, before eventually plotting her way to a third consecutive semi-final at her home slam.

She wasted three early in the second set before conceding a break in the sixth game with a double fault at 30-40 as Noskova forced a decider.