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Azarenka will now play Naomi Osaka of Japan in the final on Saturday.
Victoria Azarenka celebrates beating Serena Willaims in her US Open semi-final matc on September 10, 2020. Image: @ usopen / Twitter
NEW YORK – Victoria Azarenka came from behind to surprise Serena Williams in a three-set thriller and reach the US Open final on Thursday.
The non-seeded Belarusian fought back to overtake third-seeded Williams 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour 56 minutes under the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Azarenka will now play Naomi Osaka of Japan in the final on Saturday.
It will be the former world No. 1’s first appearance in a tennis major final since Williams defeated her in the US Open final in 2013.
“That’s my favorite number, so I guess it must be,” Azarenka said of her seven-year wait to return to a Grand Slam singles final.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity. I am very grateful to be able to play against such a champion in the semifinals.”
Two-time Grand Slam winner Azarenka had never beaten Williams before in a Grand Slam and seemed headed for another agonizing loss after being beaten 6-1 in the first set.
But the 31-year-old turned the tide in the second set, improving her service game and drastically reducing her unforced errors when she began to dictate long plays.
“I knew it would never end until I had another chance,” Azarenka said.
The Belarusian player also suffered a heartbreaking loss to Williams at the 2012 US Open, when she served for the match 5-3 in the third set only to lose 7-5.
Azarenka was determined that history would not repeat itself. Serving for the game, she double-faulted before breaking her fastest serve of the night at 109 mph.
When Williams challenged and lost an ace that was called up at the next point, it was game, set, and match for Azarenka.
“I’ve been there before. Today was going to be different,” Azarenka said.
His last Slam title came at the 2013 Australian Open when he retained the crown he 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 for her son has interrupted her career in recent years, but she is currently undergoing a renaissance and is ranked 27th in the world rankings.
Williams hoped to match Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
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