Aryna Sabalenka Storms Into Second Straight US Open Final
Aryna Sabalenka secured the opening set on the back of 16 winners, twice as many as the 13th seed Emma Navarro.
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Aryna Sabalenka, former World No. 1, made it to her second consecutive US Open final after beating USA’s Emma Navarro. In an encounter that lasted an hour and 30 minutes, Sabalenka beat her American opponent 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), in a thriller.
US Open 2024: Aryna Sabalenka Prevails Over Emma Navarro In A See-Saw To Book Reach Final
Sabalenka secured the opening set on the back of 16 winners, twice as many as the 13th seed Navarro.
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The 26-year-old expanded to a 3-2 lead with a break in the second set with the American having to fend off more break points to avoid slipping to a 2-5 deficit.
That breathed new life into her challenge and she broke Sabalenka when her rival served for the match, pulling level for 5-5.
The Belarusan was amazed to see the crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium cheering for her.
“Guys, now you’re cheering for me. Wow. It’s a bit too late,” Sabalenka said. “It really means a lot and even though you guys were supporting her (Navarro) still I had the goose bumps for you cheering. It was an incredible atmosphere.”
Second seed Sabalenka will now face home favorite Jessica Pegula in the final of the US Open 2024.
“I don’t really care who I face in the final because today was a good test of the crowd cheering for my opponent and even if it is going to be Pegula, I don’t care. I’m ready to face whoever”, she said.
A two-time Australian champion, Sabalenka, who finished as 1st runners-up in the last US Open, will be looking forward to winning the title in New York this time around.
Sabalenka moves one win away from becoming the first woman to win both hard-court Grand Slam titles in the same year since Angelique Kerber won the Australian Open and US Open title earlier this year.
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On the other hand, Pegula will be featuring in her first slam final. After entering the U.S. Open 2024 after losing six Grand Slam quarterfinals, the American reached her first semi final after beating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
In the semi-final match, the 30-year-old rallied from losing the first set and being down a break in the second to defeat Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic in three sets 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.