— New York Wednesday, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 7-6(4) to advance to the US Open semifinals for the second consecutive year.
For a spot in Saturday’s final, the 24-year-old Belarusian will face either world number one and French Open champion Iga Swiatek or Jessica Pegula of the United States.
Sabalenka, the sixth-ranked player in the world and a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2021, defeated Pliskova, the 2016 New York runner-up, without facing a single break point.
“I anticipated a high level with lengthy rallies. I desired to remain in the match and force her to work “explained Sabalenka.
The Belarusian has lost to Swiatek three times in 2022 without winning a single set, while Pegula holds a 3-1 career edge over him.
“They are both formidable adversaries. I must fight and put out my best effort. I am prepared for an epic struggle “She continued.
Sabalenka is capitalizing on her spectacular escape in the second round in New York against Kaia Kanepi, when she saved two match points while down 1-5 in the second set.
Wednesday, she completed the opening set in only 28 minutes, aided by three service breaks.
Pliskova, who is 30 years old, won just one game in her opening match and committed five double faults.
Number 22 in the world Pliskova saved two break points in the eighth game of the second set, but Sabalenka’s drive to the semifinals was unstoppable.
Swiatek is the only remaining player who has won a major title and the only Polish woman to reach the quarterfinals in New York in the contemporary era.
In 2022, the Pole has defeated Pegula twice to win titles in Miami and Roland Garros.
Swiatek has won a season-high 54 matches this year, a run that has resulted in six titles.
AFP