NEW YORK: world number one Iga Swiatek rallied from a set to beat Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and reached her first US Open final, where she will face Ons Jabeur on Saturday for the trophy.
After a slow start, the Pole came alive in the second set and overcame an early break in the tiebreak winning the last four games to defeat the mighty Belarusian.
“Against Aryna, you have to have the energy to push her back and be able to play those fastballs,” Swiatek said in an on-court interview.
“In the first set I was a bit lacking so I needed to pull myself together. Drink a few shots of energy and go for it. I’m pretty glad I did that.”
With the win, Swiatek became the first Polish woman to reach the US Open final where she will face Jabeur, who became the first African woman in the Open era to do the same earlier in the day.
Swiatek and Sabalenka came out tense in the spotlight on Thursday, but the sixth seed settled in first, finding a serve rhythm and dialing in his forehand against Swiatek, who has struggled at times against heavy hitters in the past.
Sabalenka consolidated a break with an ace for 4-2 and captured the opening set when she snuck into the net behind a huge forehand and volleyed past Swiatek who charged.
But Swiatek, who was forced to fight back after a set down in her fourth-round match against Jule Niemeier, raised her level to second, serving much better and breaking Sabalenka three times to tie the game.
Sabalenka responded early in the third, her confidence growing as her searing backhand knocked her opponent down the pitch as she took a 2-0 lead.
But the feisty Swiatek refused to back down, coming back with a backhand winner to level the score at 4-4 and advanced to her first Flushing Meadows final when Sabalenka’s backhand landed in the net.
Two-time French Open champion Swiatek will be aiming for her third Grand Slam title when she faces dynamic Tunisian Jabeur, who qualified for her semi-final with a straight-sets win over Caroline Garcia.
Swiatek and Jabeur are 2-2 in their four career meetings.
“It’s always difficult and I’m sure it will be physical,” Swiatek said of Jabeur.
“She’s got such good hands, she’s solid from the baseline and when she comes in, so I have to be careful.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. Right now I’m just going to enjoy the final.”
After a slow start, the Pole came alive in the second set and overcame an early break in the tiebreak winning the last four games to defeat the mighty Belarusian.
“Against Aryna, you have to have the energy to push her back and be able to play those fastballs,” Swiatek said in an on-court interview.
“In the first set I was a bit lacking so I needed to pull myself together. Drink a few shots of energy and go for it. I’m pretty glad I did that.”
With the win, Swiatek became the first Polish woman to reach the US Open final where she will face Jabeur, who became the first African woman in the Open era to do the same earlier in the day.
Swiatek and Sabalenka came out tense in the spotlight on Thursday, but the sixth seed settled in first, finding a serve rhythm and dialing in his forehand against Swiatek, who has struggled at times against heavy hitters in the past.
Sabalenka consolidated a break with an ace for 4-2 and captured the opening set when she snuck into the net behind a huge forehand and volleyed past Swiatek who charged.
But Swiatek, who was forced to fight back after a set down in her fourth-round match against Jule Niemeier, raised her level to second, serving much better and breaking Sabalenka three times to tie the game.
Sabalenka responded early in the third, her confidence growing as her searing backhand knocked her opponent down the pitch as she took a 2-0 lead.
But the feisty Swiatek refused to back down, coming back with a backhand winner to level the score at 4-4 and advanced to her first Flushing Meadows final when Sabalenka’s backhand landed in the net.
Two-time French Open champion Swiatek will be aiming for her third Grand Slam title when she faces dynamic Tunisian Jabeur, who qualified for her semi-final with a straight-sets win over Caroline Garcia.
Swiatek and Jabeur are 2-2 in their four career meetings.
“It’s always difficult and I’m sure it will be physical,” Swiatek said of Jabeur.
“She’s got such good hands, she’s solid from the baseline and when she comes in, so I have to be careful.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. Right now I’m just going to enjoy the final.”