Aryna Sabalenka thwarts Emma Navarro’s fightback to enter second straight US Open final | Tennis News

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka charged into her second straight US Open final on Thursday, overcoming a late fightback from American Emma Navarro at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The runner-up last year relied on her superior power to subdue the 13th seeded Navarro, sending over 34 winners, and she closed it out with a satisfying overhead smash on match point for a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory.
Navarro took out the defending champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round but was outmatched against Sabalenka, even with a passionate home crowd urging her on.

Sabalenka teased the fans after the win: “Now you’re cheering for me – wow – it’s a bit late.”
“Even though you guys were supporting her, I had the goosebumps,” she said, as quoted by Reuters. “She’s such a great player, really tough opponent.”
Earlier this year, Navarro emerged victorious against Sabalenka in a hard-fought three-set match at Indian Wells. As they exchanged breaks early in the opening set on Thursday, it seemed that another intense battle was on the horizon.

However, Sabalenka managed to settle her nerves and gain the upper hand in the sixth game. She secured a crucial break with a powerful forehand winner. In the following game, Sabalenka faced a break point but successfully fended it off with an impressive, unreturnable serve.
Navarro suffered a knee injury while pursuing a shot during the second set, while Sabalenka appeared poised for an easy victory when Navarro’s backhand error handed her a break in the fifth game.

However, Navarro displayed resilience and continued to battle, applying pressure from the baseline. Her efforts paid off as she broke back in the tenth game.
Sabalenka’s frustration was evident when she sarcastically gestured to her coach’s box after a double fault allowed Navarro to take a 2-0 lead in the tiebreak.
However, she quickly focused on the task at hand to secure victory.