Sabalenka passes Navarro 6-3, 7-6 to achieve the second in a row US The open final
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus achieved a career high ranking of #1 last September and is currently ranked second. She defended her Australian Open title in January and is still looking for her first title NY after losing the final in three to Coco Gauff last September.
The 26-year-old sweetheart has gone through the draw losing only one set in five games. Her opponent from Charleston, South Carolina posed a formidable threat. Three years younger, Emma Navarro has moved up the rankings and is currently at a career high of #12 and was divided thirteenth.
of 2021 NCAA the champion won her first tour-level title in January at the Hobart International (v. Mertens) and has scored four top-ten wins, including a treble over Sabalenka last March at Indian Wells.
In just her third main draw appearance, she reached her fourth final and with a partisan crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, all bets were off. This was their third tournament-level meeting. Sabalenka prevailed in the draw in their most recent encounter last May on clay at Roland Garros.
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Sabalenka served first and although she gave away a double fault, she held 15 with an ace up the tee as Navarro served up two backhand errors and dropped serve.
Sabalenka opened the third with her second ace and as she hit another, double-faulted, she faced a double break point and gave it back. The American double-faulted, but with three incredible winners, he consolidated the break for 2-2.
Sabalenka hit two terrific forehand winners and held 30 ABOUT 3-2 while Navarro faced triple break point and broke serve when her opponent pressed a crosscourt forehand.
the world #2 continued to hit the ball and dictate the game. Although faced with deuce and break point, she consolidated the break for 4-2 with pace, placement and variety. Navarro serving with newly made balls 4/6 serves first and with an ace up the tee, held for him 30 ABOUT 3-5.
Sabalenka opened the ninth with a backhand drive and a hard drive behind the line, won double set point and converted when Navarro scored the return.
The American served first in the second and made it 4/4 first serves including one 101mph serve off the tee to hold to love as Sabalenka hit two more aces and held 30 to level.
Navarro with a better forehand percentage kept it close and drew more errors from the Belarusian. She did 5/6 first serves and is held for him 30 ABOUT 2-1 while Sabalenka hit two incredibles and held at love level.
Navarro opened the fifth with two straight faults, faced a break point and dropped serve with an unseasoned backhand, while Sabalenka hit two more winners including her sixth ace on game point to consolidate the break for 4-2.
Navarro gives little in the way of her emotions, but as time runs out, she gets the crowd pumped into her performance. As the unforced errors continued to mount, she faced a double break point and two break points still held after Sabalenka committed four backhand errors.
As Ashe Stadium erupted in cheers and applause, 2023 the finalist lined up with new balls. She hit two winners including her seventh ace and held 30 ABOUT 5-3. Navarro serving to stay in the match did 5/5 first it is easy to serve and maintain 15 as her opponent missed four returns.
Sabalenka, who served for the match and a place in the final, hit an incredible forehand inside-out but faced double break points and dropped serve when she hit a backhand. The wheels seemed to have fallen off, and as her frustration grew, so did the crowd’s engagement.
Navarro maintained an aggressive court position and continued to hit the ball with conviction. She did 5/5 serves first and with an incredible forehand down the line, held on 15 to lead 6-5.
Sabalenka served to stay the set and force the breaker. With the pressure mounting, she served her fourth double fault but held on 6-6 with an inside forehand and her eight ace.
Despite serving her fifth double fault, Sabalenka ran into a 6-2 lead and converted her first match point with a confident overhead kick. She may have lost her way, but she found her way back to another US The open final.
She hit more aces than two fouls (8/5) and won 74First % and 45% of second serve points. She escaped 3/5 breakpoints during conversion 3/6. She was just as effective when she came back winning 32First % and a shocking one 75% of second serve return points. While she hit the same number of winners and errors (34) she dictated the game on serve and off the court.
In the second in a row US The open final, she hosts the winner of the semi-final Xesika Pegula/Karolina Muchova. Sabalenka directs Pegula 5-2 face to face with this being their first meeting in NY. Muchova leads head to head 2-1 winning both matches on strong court. This would be their first meeting at Flushing Meadows with a Grand Slam trophy and 2000 line ranking points.
