Azarenka reaches US Open final for third time in career

11:08, 11 September

 Victoria Azarenka. Photo courtesy of Jimmie48 tennis photography

Belarus' world number 27 Victoria Azarenka continues her 2020 US Open impressing run in New York, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian defeated her longtime rival Serena Williams, ranked eighth in the world, in the semifinal on Thursday night, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. The match lasted for an hour and 53 minutes.

This is Azarenka's fifth win in 23 career head-to-head encounters with the American athlete. Serena Williams beat Victoria Azarenka in the US Open twice, in 2012 and 2013. Victoria Azarenka holds 21 WTA singles titles, including two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open (2012, 2013).

Azarenka moves on to face world number 9 Naomi Osaka of Japan in the title match on Saturday, 12 September. The Japanese athlete saw off U.S. world number 41 Jennifer Brady, 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 6-3, in the second semifinal.

On her way to the 2020 US Open final, Victoria Azarenka cruised past Austria's world number 139 Barbara Haas 6-1, 6-2, saw off Belarus' world number 11 Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-3, took a solid win over Poland's Iga Swiatek, ranked world No.53, 6-4, 6-2, outlasted Karolina Muchova (world number 26) of the Czech Republic 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, and advanced past Belgium's world number 18 Elise Mertens, 6-1, 6-0.

The US Open in New York, with the total prize pool of $53.4 million, will complete on 13 September.

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