NEW YORK — In a tense moment during the second set of her US Open semifinal, Aryna Sabalenka felt the pressure as the crowd rallied behind her American opponent. This reminded the 2023 runner-up of her challenging experience at the same venue last year. “Last year was a very tough experience. I told myself, ‘No, no, no, Aryna. It’s not going to happen again. Control your emotions and focus on yourself,’” Sabalenka recalled. Encouraged by her fans and team, she pushed through, determined to fight for the win.
The No. 2 seed Sabalenka advanced to her second consecutive final at Flushing Meadows with a strong performance, winning the match against Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (2). She showcased her signature style of high-risk, high-reward tennis, securing the last seven points of the match.
Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus and a two-time Australian Open champion, experienced a heartbreaking loss in last year’s US Open final against Coco Gauff. This time, facing the 13th-seeded Navarro, Sabalenka managed to maintain focus despite the growing support for her opponent.
After the match, a lighthearted Sabalenka remarked on the crowd’s change of heart, saying, “Well, guys, now you are cheering for me. It’s a bit too late.” In her previous match, she humorously suggested that she might buy drinks to win over the fans.
Navarro did not back down and continued to challenge Sabalenka in the second set, even breaking her serve when Sabalenka tried to secure victory at 5-4. “I wasn’t ready for the match to be over,” Navarro admitted. However, in the tiebreaker, Sabalenka surged ahead after Navarro initially led.
Sabalenka will face another American, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, for the title on Saturday. Navarro, originally from New York and a former NCAA singles champion, made her Grand Slam semifinal debut but ultimately could not match Sabalenka’s experience, marking the latter’s ninth major semifinal appearance.
Sabalenka’s statistics highlighted her dominance: she won 9 of the last 11 points to seal her victory, and despite 34 unforced errors overall, she demonstrated skillful shot variety, including effective drop shots and crucial return winners.
As she heads into the final, Sabalenka has dominated the major tournaments this season, winning 35 of the 38 sets she has played. This marks her fourth consecutive appearance in a hard-court major final, a feat matched by only Victoria Azarenka of Belarus since 2000.