Aryna Sabalenka kept her hopes of a third straight U.S. Open title alive on Tuesday.

She beat Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a tense quarterfinal.

Sabalenka said she thought the match was over at one point in the third set.

That feeling helped her relax and go for her shots.

She finished the match with a second-serve ace.

Sabalenka needed the win to keep any chance of holding the No. 1 ranking.

She will face either Jessica Pegula or Emma Navarro in the semifinals on Thursday.

Noskova, the Wimbledon champion, came close to a big achievement.

She almost became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the U.S. Open semifinals after winning a major on grass.

Noskova led 4-2 in the third set, but Sabalenka broke back to level at 4-all.

Sabalenka said she played with great intensity in that moment.

She gained confidence from it.

Noskova had more winners and aces than Sabalenka.

But Sabalenka won the match tiebreaker after Noskova double-faulted at 4-3.

Sabalenka will lose the No. 1 ranking she has held for 99 weeks if Elena Rybakina beats Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday.

If Rybakina loses, Sabalenka can keep the ranking by winning the title.

Noskova’s run was her best at the U.S. Open.

She had only reached one major quarterfinal before winning Wimbledon this year.