Serena Williams was beaten 1-6 6-3 6-3 in the semi-finals of the US Open by Victoria Azarenka on Thursday, denying her the chance of winning a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title on home soil this year.
Belarusian Azarenka will play Japan's Naomi Osaka in her third final at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, having lost the previous two to Williams in 2012 and 2013.
VICTORIA AZARENKA HAS DONE IT!
— ESPN (@espn) September 11, 2020
She comes back to defeat Serena Williams for the final spot in the #USOpen championship match.
This will be Azarenka's first major final in seven years. pic.twitter.com/T8depXUMLO
Six-times U.S. Open champion Williams came out firing winners from all sides of the Arthur Ashe Stadium court and wrapped up the opening set in little more than half an hour.
Azarenka, playing her first Grand Slam semi-final in seven years, raised her game in the second stanza and came out on top after some explosive exchanges of power-hitting.
The twice Australian Open champion kept up the pressure in the third as 38-year-old Williams struggled with an injury to her left ankle and sealed her place in the final with an ace.
7 years later, Victoria Azarenka will have another shot at the US Open ? pic.twitter.com/Clmq4qElQT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2020
Victoria Azarenka ends a 7-year, 5-day gap between major final appearances with a win against Serena Williams in the US Open semis.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 11, 2020
It's the second-longest span between major final appearances among women in the Open Era. (Venus Williams: 7 years, 207 days). pic.twitter.com/dQq5MP1Zgo
Serena Williams' quest for a 24th Grand Slam title is over—but Victoria Azarenka's quest for her first #USOpen continues.
— TENNIS (@Tennis) September 11, 2020
Twice a runner-up in NYC, Vika is into the final—her first at a major since 2013—with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Naomi Osaka awaits.https://t.co/io5EQKzdk4
