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Japan’s Naomi Osaka (WTA 9) and Belarusian Viktoria Asarenka (WTA 27), two former world No. 1s, will contest the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows on Saturday night.
Despite many cancellations and waivers, two former world No. 1s will meet in the final of the first Grand Slam tournament since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The dream final in New York was avoided: Serena Williams also failed in her ninth attempt since her last major title (at the 2017 Australian Open) to match Margaret Court’s historic mark (24 Grand Slam titles in singles).
Serena led 6-1, 1-0 and 40:30
For 45 minutes, Serena Williams was on her way against an opponent she had never lost to in a Grand Slam tournament. The 38-year-old made a flying start against Viktoria Asarenka, starting with two quick breaks and leading 6: 1, 1: 0. Williams won a break ball for a 2-0 lead. But the Belarusian in good shape found her game in the second set. And from that moment she clearly dominated Serena Williams: Asarenka won the duel between two mothers in 131 minutes with 1: 6, 6: 3, 6: 3.
Viktoria Asarenka is restless in the final of the US Open. But that is not a sensation. Asarenka won the test tournament at the “Bubble” in New York two weeks ago. Thanks to this great success, the 31-year-old Belarusian rose to 27th in the rankings. Asarenka has already won 20 hard court tournaments, for example the Australian Open twice. Since her maternity hiatus three years ago, Asarenka has only made it to the round of 16 at major tournaments – that was in 2017 at Wimbledon, shortly after returning to tour.
Asarenka revives her career at Flushing Meadows. When she checked into the New York “bubble” she had been expecting a sense of accomplishment for over a year, ever since the American hard court tour a year ago. In the last three weeks, Azarenka has achieved twelve wins in a row. At the test tournament, she celebrated her first success since spring 2016. Even then, at Indian Wells and Key Biscayne, Asarenka defeated the entire world elite twice in a good three weeks.
Osaka defeated Brady in three sets
Asarenka’s final opponent, Naomi Osaka, fought 7: 6 (7: 1), 3: 6, 6: 3 over outsider Jennifer Brady for the final. Both semifinals were played indoors due to the rain.
Osaka also won her 10th singles since entering the New York bubble three weeks ago. In the preparatory tournament he also qualified for the final, which did not play against Asarenka due to thigh problems.
Against Jennifer Brady, winner of the tournament two weeks ago in Lexington (in the final against Jill Teichmann), Osaka had to go the full distance for the third time against Misaki Doi (first round) and Marta Kostjuk (third round). The first semi-final was characterized by sovereign service games: there was no break in the first set, and only one in each of sets 2 and 3.
Serena Williams had to bury her dream of landing the 24th title against Vika Asarenka once again.
It no longer looked good for Serena Williams: In the third sentence, she had to undergo treatment on her left ankle.
Immediately after the treatment break, Serena Williams abandoned her service game in the third set.
Viktoria Asarenka defeated Serena Williams for the first time in a major tournament. Asarenka won the test tournament in New York two weeks ago.
Serena Williams still waiting for the title 24
Serena Williams had to bury her dream of landing the 24th title against Vika Asarenka once again.
It no longer looked good for Serena Williams: In the third sentence, she had to undergo treatment on her left ankle.
Immediately after the treatment break, Serena Williams abandoned her service game in the third set.
Viktoria Asarenka defeated Serena Williams for the first time in a major tournament. Asarenka won the test tournament in New York two weeks ago.
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