Aryna Sabalenka is one victory away from securing her first US Open title. She defeated Emma Navarro in straight sets, who was playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal.
Before the tournament began, the world No. 2 was the favorite to win the women’s singles. In her last event, she won the Cincinnati Open, overcoming Jessica Pegula in the final.
Sabalenka has also come very close at Flushing Meadows in the last three years. She lost the final to Coco Gauff last year and fell in tight semifinals in 2021 to Leylah Fernandez and 2022 to Iga Swiatek.
Her quarterfinal performance was an ominous sign for Navarro. Sabalenka hammered Qinwen Zheng 6-1, 6-2, producing some breathtaking tennis during that match. She is the best hard-court player in the world at her best.
There was some controversy from that match when Sabalenka’s fitness coach was spotted wearing a hat for a brand some have accused of transphobia, taking some of the focus away from the tennis.
Navarro may be the most improved player in tennis this year. The 23-year-old’s terrific season so far included a triumph against Sabalenka at the Indian Wells Open in March, which gave her some hope of managing a shock.
The American got off to the worst possible start, getting broken in her opening service game after Sabalenka held easily to start the match. But she responded by breaking the Belarusian straight back, to the home crowd’s delight.
Sabalenka’s level was not at its blistering best in the opening set. There was some hope for Navarro if she could find her best tennis every game. Of course, doing that on such a big stage was a tough challenge.
Despite not playing breathtaking tennis, Sabalenka used her experience and kept choosing the right shots, putting Navarro under pressure. She broke again after a forehand winner to go 4-2 up.
Navarro could not take a break point in the following game, and the set slipped away from her after that. Sabalenka won it 6-3, and it felt like a long way back from there for the American.
Both women started competently on serve. There were no break points in the opening four games. Navarro hoped to keep serving well throughout the set to put pressure on her illustrious opponent.
Unfortunately for her, she got broken in the fifth game after Sabalenka played her best game of the match. Navarro did not do much wrong, but the two-time Australian Open champion found some big shots to break.
To Navarro’s immense credit, she did not throw in the towel. The home favorite fought back from 15-40 down in her following service game to keep herself in the match. The 23-year-old held again to get to 4-5 and force Sabalenka to serve for a place in the final.
Surprisingly, Sabalenka flinched. She hit a series of unforced errors to get broken for the second time in the match. Navarro held in the next game to go 6-5 up, and suddenly, the pre-match favorite was under pressure.
Sabalenka put herself in trouble again by not taking three game points at 40-0, but she eventually held to make it 6-6 and take the second set to a tiebreak.
Navarro went 2-0 up after Sabalenka hit a double fault on the second point. However, the 26-year-old responded by winning four consecutive points to go 4-2 up at the changeover, including a stunning rally at 2-2 that had the fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium on their feet.
Sabalenka made it seven points in a row to secure a 6-3, 7-6(7-2) win and make the US Open final again. Navarro can be very proud of her tournament, but Sabalenka’s class was too much in the end.
