States walks to her seat due to an injury in the third set during
her Women’s Singles semifinal match against Victoria Azarenka of
Belarus on Day Eleven of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean
King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2020 in the Queens
borough of New York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty
Images/AFP
Victoria Azarenka came from behind to stun Serena
Williams in a three-set thriller and reach the US Open final on
Thursday.
The unseeded Belarusian fought back to overcome Williams, seeded
third, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 1hr 56min under the roof of Arthur Ashe
Stadium.
Azarenka will now play Naomi Osaka of Japan in Saturday’s
final.
It will be the former world number one’s first appearance in the
final of a tennis major since Williams beat her in the final of the
US Open in 2013.
“That’s my favorite number so I guess that’s meant to be,”
Azarenka said of her seven-year wait to return to a Grand Slam
singles final.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I’m so grateful to be
able to play such a champion in the semi-finals,” she added.
Belarus reacts in the third set during her Women’s Singles
semifinal match against Serena Williams of the United States on Day
Eleven of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center on September 10, 2020, in the Queens borough of New
York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
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Two-time Grand Slam winner Azarenka had never beaten Williams
before in a Grand Slam and she seemed to be heading for another
agonizing loss after being hammered 6-1 in the first set.
But the 31-year-old turned the tide in set two, upping her
service game and drastically reducing her unforced errors as she
began to dictate lengthy rallies.
“I knew it’s never over until I have another chance,” said
Azarenka.
The player from Belarus also suffered a heartbreaking loss to
Williams in the 2012 US Open, when she served for the match at 5-3
in the third set only to lose 7-5.
Azarenka was determined that history would not repeat itself.
Serving for the match, she hit a double fault before smashing her
fastest serve of the night at 109 mph.
When Williams then challenged and lost an ace that was called in
on the next point, it was game, set and match to Azarenka.
“I’ve been there before. Today was gonna be different,” Azarenka
said.
Her last Slam title came at the 2013 Australian Open, when she
retained the crown she had won a year earlier.
The 31-year-old is enjoying a fairytale run at the US Open after
claiming last month’s Western and Southern Open tune-up event in
New York.
Azarenka became a mother in December 2016. A custody battle over
her son has disrupted her career in recent years, but she is
currently experiencing a renaissance and is up to 27th in the world
rankings.
Williams had been hoping to match Margaret Court’s record of 24
Grand Slam singles titles.
AFP