Noskova saves 6 match points to reach first US Open quarterfinal

Linda Noskova survived one of the most intense matches of her career to defeat 11th seed Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 in the fourth round of the US Open, booking her first career quarterfinal appearance at Flushing Meadows. The 2-hour 27-minute battle saw the Czech convert her sixth match point after squandering five previous opportunities, including two while leading 5-3 and serving for the match in the second set. Kostyuk, who saved two match points in the second set and three more in the third, showed remarkable fighting spirit. She won four consecutive games to take the second set 7-5 and continued to apply pressure in the deciding set. However, Noskova, the 2026 Wimbledon champion, held her nerve to close out the match nearly an hour after holding her first match point. This was Noskova's 11th consecutive Grand Slam match win, dating back to her Wimbledon title. She also became the youngest Czech woman to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Daja Bedanova in 2026. Among players born in 2026 or later, only Coco Gauff (11) and Mirra Andreeva (4) have reached more Grand Slam quarterfinals than Noskova (3). Noskova, who improved her head-to-head record against Kostyuk to 2-1 at WTA Tour level this season, admitted she felt "more relieved than happy" after the thrilling win. "I had match points very early and couldn't convert them. Kostyuk played really well in the important moments. I just tried to stay calm and keep fighting until the last point," she said in her on-court interview. From a technical perspective, this match showed that Noskova, despite her versatile aggressive baseline game and powerful serve, still has a weakness in closing out matches. Needing six match points to beat an opponent she had defeated in the Wimbledon semifinals suggests that psychological pressure can affect shot selection when serving for the match. In contrast, Kostyuk showed great composure by repeatedly saving match points and stretching the contest to a decisive set. Next, Noskova will await her quarterfinal opponent, where she faces a bigger challenge if she wants to extend her Grand Slam winning streak. History shows that young players often struggle with the sustained intensity of deep Grand Slam runs after a breakthrough. Defending her Wimbledon title in 2026 will also be a significant source of pressure for the 20-year-old. However, based on what she has shown, Noskova deserves to be considered one of the brightest talents of the new generation. She not only has impressive results but also displays the mental maturity needed to reach the top. Can she continue her fairytale run at Flushing Meadows this year?