Sabalenka returns to US Open final with straight-set win over Navarro

Aryna Sabalenka will play in the US Open final for a second straight year after defeating Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (2) on Thursday night. Sabalenka, the 2023 runner-up, advanced after one hour and 30 minutes.

The Belarusian will battle either Jessica Pegula or Karolina Muchova for the title on Saturday.

Although it ended in straight sets, Thursday’s first semi-final was one the highest-quality matches of the tournament. Navarro, who will break into the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time on Monday, threw everything she had at Sabalenka but in the end could not withstand the world No 2’s firepower. The American did well to break back when her opponent served for the match at 5-4 in the second and she eventually forced a tiebreak. Again, though, Sabalenka’s power proved to be too much when it mattered most.

An overhead smash on her first match point at 6-2 in the tiebreak clinched victory in style.

Sabalenka struck eight aces to Navarro’s one and finished with 34 winners to the American’s 13.

Now she has a chance to go one step farther than last year, when she lost to crowd favorite Coco Gauff.

“That was very difficult match,” the second seed said after getting past Navarro, “especially at the end of the second set — I got a little emotional and had this little flashback on last year final — meaning the crowd atmosphere. I’m really glad that the lessons learned, and I was able to control my emotions and I was able to close this match in two sets.”

“It was a really amazing experience being out there on Ashe playing an opponent like her,” Navarro commented. “Obviously it’s disappointing to not be able to get the win today. I kind of got my teeth into it there at the end of the second set and I felt I could definitely push it to a third — wasn’t able to do so.

“She played really good when it came down to the wire, and I didn’t play as well.”

Sabalenka, who lost to Coco Gauff in the 2023 championship match at Flushing Meadows, will be a considerable favorite over Pegula or Muchova. The 26-year-old is 5-2 lifetime against Pegula and 1-2 against Muchova.

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