September 06, (THEWILL) – Aryna Sabalenka, world number two, has reached her second consecutive US Open final. The Belarusian player defeated American Emma Navarro in a hard-fought match on Thursday, winning 6-3, 7-6 (7/2).
Sabalenka, who has already claimed two Australian Open titles, is now one victory away from her third Grand Slam championship. The semi-final match took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Sabalenka faced not only her opponent but also a partisan crowd supporting the 13th-seeded American. Despite the challenging atmosphere, Sabalenka managed to outperform Navarro, delivering 34 winners compared to her opponent’s 13.
Navarro, playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, showed determination by fighting back from a 3-5 deficit in the second set to force a tiebreak. However, Sabalenka’s experience and power ultimately prevailed, allowing her to secure the victory and advance to the final.
In the post-match interview, Sabalenka acknowledged the crowd’s support for her opponent but expressed gratitude for the electric atmosphere. She stated her readiness to face either Jessica Pegula or Karolina Muchova in the final, emphasising her preparedness regardless of her opponent.
The US Open final is scheduled for Saturday, where Sabalenka will compete for her third Grand Slam title. Her previous appearance in the US Open final was in 2023, where she finished as runner-up to Coco Gauff.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
