[ad_1]
US Open 2020
2 hours does
Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka achieved her 11th consecutive victory with a first win over Serena Williams in a major tournament, outlasting the 23-time Grand Slam champion in three dramatic sets to reach her first Grand Slam final since 2013, where will play. 2018 champion Naomi Osaka.
By David kane
NEW YORK, NY, USA – Former world number one Victoria Azarenka reached her first Grand Slam final since 2013, rebounding from a set down to surprise rival Serena Williams, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, to reach her third end of the US Open and book a Clash with 2018 champion Naomi Osaka.
“Seven is my favorite number, so I guess it must be,” Azarenka noted, joking about the gap between major final appearances during his on-court interview. “I am very grateful for this opportunity, to be able to play against such a champion in a semi-final. The road to the final requires you to beat the best players, and today was definitely that day.”
Azarenka extended her winning streak to 11 in a row in a touring mothers battle, and scored her first win over Williams in a major tournament, halting her quest for a 24th major, after an hour and 55 minutes under the roof of Arthur Ashe, closed. for the rain.
“I hope this inspires women to pursue their dreams. I feel like you can’t always identify as one thing, because we have so many things we can do in our lives. A father is the most important thing I can be in my life. but I’m also a tennis player, a fighter on the court. I want to pursue my personal dreams, inspire my son. I hope women all over the world know that they can do anything. Being a mother is the hardest thing, so once I you can balance that, you can do anything. “
RIVAL RECORD: Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka
“I knew it was never over, and I said it before the game. I didn’t think it was over, even when I got 5-3 in the third, because I’ve been there before!” she added, noting her final loss at the 2012 US Open to Williams, where she also led 5-3 in the final set before finishing runner-up.
“I was young. My ego was too big. Now it’s a little smaller, and the results are coming.”
Williams and Azarenka renewed their historic rivalry for the first time since the BNP Paribas Open 2019 to play their first meeting of the US Open since meeting in the 2013 final. 23-time Grand Slam champion, the No. 3 seed has not lost before the semifinals in her last 11 appearances, and was in hot pursuit of an all-time record for the 24th major title and a seventh US Open crown.
After winning three straight sets in three sets to reach the last four, he outlived his rivals. Sloane stephens and Maria sakkari – who surprised her last week at the Western & Southern Open – and surpassed her touring partner Tsvetana Pironkova in an entertaining quarter-final match.
Azarenka reached the semi-finals amid a rebirth of her career, having captured her first title since giving birth to son Leo last week at the Western & Southern Open in Flushing Meadows, and have lost only two sets in their last 10 matches, mostly avenge a loss at the 2019 US Open to Aryna Sabalenka in the second round and bombing 16th seed Elise Mertens in the quarterfinals.
Although the former world No. 1’s four victories over Williams have come in high-stakes finals, she faced an important 0-10 record against the American, who began the second semifinal of the night imperiously with a lead of double break. .
Azarenka jumped on the board and began making inroads on Williams’ serve, forcing her to save a break point in the first extended game of the match. Williams responded with her inimitable style, beating Azarenka to win set points, converting her second with a forehand.
“She got me into a big hole in the first set. I had to climb my way out of there one by one, and I was happy to turn it around, because it wasn’t easy for sure.”
Aiming to continue that momentum early in the second set, Williams worked to break the point in the two-time Australian Open champion’s opening service game, only to get a backhand comeback when Azarenka tied the score and turned the tables. turns, coming forward with a break of his own.
“I think it’s the daily work I’ve been doing to find that calm mind and combine it with an excited body, because I had to keep moving and bringing energy. There are no people to draw energy from, so I had to give it to me. same!”
The No. 3 seed fell twice behind the break point at 2-4, saving the second with a thunderous serve, but Azarenka was undaunted, holding on 5-3 and closing a near-perfect set with 12 winners to just one no error. forced. hitting his twelfth winner, an inside-out backhand, on set point.
The decisive that followed took a tense turn at first, as Williams called for a medical timeout to address a lower leg problem. Azarenka emerged from the timeout to break at his second chance, and was soon up 3-0 and on his way to a first grand final in seven years.
Four points away from defeat, Serena bravely served to stay in the match and put the focus on Azarenka, who moved to match point on her own serve. In a final twist, Williams challenged Azarenka’s delivery, which was ultimately scrapped by Hawkeye, sealing victory for the Belarusian.
It was a fair match from both women, each of whom hit more winners than unforced errors. Williams scored more winners (35-24) but also more errors (28-17), and was unable to design a break point in the final set. Azarenka, by contrast, scored on 20 of her winning shots in the final two sets and lost just four points behind her first serve in the deciding match.
Between Azarenka and a first major title since 2013, and the first outside Melbourne, is Osaka, who was scheduled to play the former world number one at the Western & Southern Open before the young Japanese woman was forced to withdraw due to to a hamstring. injury. Osaka edged out fiery American Jennifer Brady in her Grand Slam semi-final debut after three brilliant sets earlier in the evening..
“I’m really excited to play with her because we were supposed to play last week. It’s going to be super fun. She plays amazing. I watched her semi-final a little bit today, and they had some amazing rallies. She is super powerful, so I’ll have I have to stay strong and have fun. Playing a final is a blessing and a great opportunity, so I’ll take all the fun out of it. “
Their two most recent encounters, both on clay, were won by Osaka at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2018 and the French Open 2019 – the last was three sets.
