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Follow the News18 Sports’ live blog on the US Open women’s singles semi-finals, which will start with Brady and Osaka and will be followed by Serena and Azarenka. Osaka, who is in her second US Open semi-final, is eyeing a second win at Flushing Meadows and a third Grand Slam title. For Brady, it is unchartered territory as this is her first Grand Slam semi-final. Serena is still eyeing Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles while Azarenka, who recently won Western & Southern Open, is a former world No.1 in New York, she has reached two finals but has no title to show.
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Serena has her ankle strapped completely and after Victroria Azarenka makes her hustle on the court a lot, she held her ankle in pain and called for a trainer. The trainer checked and she took a medical timeout, wherein her ankle was further strapped.
The momentum was all with Azarenka, will this break her rhythm? Will Serena will able to move well on the court?
Serena has her ankle strapped completely and after Victroria Azarenka makes her hustle on the court a lot, she held her ankle in pain and called for a trainer. The trainer checked and she took a medical timeout, wherein her ankle was further strapped.
The momentum was all with Azarenka, will this break her rhythm? Will Serena will able to move well on the court?
Set 3: Serena* 6-2, 3-6, 0-1 Azarenka | Oh that huge Serena scream! Serena comes to the net and wins the first point of her service game with a kill at the net. From 40-0 up, Azarenka stormed right back to take it to deuce with her backhand firing. After a lot of hustle on the court, Serena worryingly held her strapped ankle called for the trainer.
Set 3: Serena* 6-2, 3-6, 0-1 Azarenka | Azarenka starts the decider on a good note as she grinds out to hold her serve. She is making Serena move on the court now and Serena has been misfiring while Azarenka seems more agile and consistent now.
Victoria Azarenka has found a fresh rhythm as she breaks Serena Williams once more to take the second set 6-3 and force a deciding set. This just got very interesting!
Set 2: Serena* 6-2, 3-5 Azarenka | Azarenka holds her serve with ease. She is in her rhythm now, showing her range of strokes, consistent backhand and attacking Serena up front.
Set 2: Serena 6-2, 3-4 Azarenka* | Two break points come and go for Azarenka but she is playing so much better now and creating pressure on Serena. Serena has lost all seven of her second serve points so far. Serena, though, shows her composure once again and holds her serve.
Set 2: Serena* 6-2, 2-4 Azarenka | Another love hold for Azarenka, her second straight. This is finally turning right for Azarenka. Serena will now have to just dig in.
Form 52 per cent first serves in and a just a 40 percent win ratio in the first set, Azarenka has bettered her first serve in percentage to 81 and is winning 77 per cent of them. That is how better Azarenka is now!
Set 2: Serena 6-2, 2-3 Azarenka* | 0-30 down, Serena gets a big first serve in and let’s out a “c’mon” to pump herself up. But Azarenka brings her A return game and beautiful backhand to get herself two break points. She converts in just her first point to get right back in this semi-final.
Set 2: Serena* 6-2, 2-2 Azarenka | Azarenka holds her serve to love. She is playing better now, giving herself some chance here. She has even put 10 out of 12 first serves in this set and that has been a huge help for her.
Set 2: Serena 6-2, 2-1 Azarenka* | A brilliant last point as both players exchange angled, powerful groundstrokes. Serena shows excellent movement on the baseline to stretch and bang the forehand to get the last point.
Set 2: Serena* 6-2, 1-1 Azarenka | Azarenka holds her serve even as Serena pushes on. Azarenka let out a scream after holding her serve and she has to stay in this to give herself any chance.
Here are the statistics from the first set of Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka.
Set 2: Serena 6-2, 1-0 Azarenka* (* denotes next server) | A dominant service hold by Serena as she hold her serve 40 to love. It is all Serena right now and even though the American is playing good tennis, it is more about how weak and patchy Azarenka is right now.
Set 1: Serena 6-2 Azarenka | From 40-0 up, Serena takes Azarenka to deuce. Azarenka was really good in the first three points but not so much in the next three. She is so inconsistent right now that it is just playing in Serena’s hands. Serena then converted her second set point to ease through the first set.
SERENA WILL NOT BE STOPPED 😤
One set away now. pic.twitter.com/wd5L4j1ppQ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2020
Set 1: Serena 5-1 Azarenka* | Azarenka is finally getting into her elements, she is opening up the court, coming to the net, going for the winners, and stretching Serena. She is able to bring up a break point but then sprays her backhand to get it to deuce. Serena, then, gets to advantage with a big first serve. However, Azarenka’s consistent returns make Serena send a forehand wide. An unforced error from Azarenka as she hits the net despite a couple of massively attacking strokes that stretched Serena. She holds her serve!
Set 1: Serena* 4-1 Azarenka | Azarenka is having to work so hard for every single point right now, she could be heard cursing, “it’s f*****g s**t,” she said in the middle of her service game. But she finally gets on board as well. Azarenka shows her range, plays some powerful shots to the line to get ‘1’ against her name.
Set 1: Serena 4-0 Azarenka* | Another easy hold of serve for Serena Williams to open up a 4-0 lead. This first set looks like it will be a walkaway for the six-time champion. Azarenka just can’t find her length yet.
Set 1: Serena* 3-0 Azarenka | Serena, who has had slow starts at US Open, will not mind this. Azarenka has literally gifted her an ideal start with two breaks of serve.
Set 1: Serena 2-0 Azarenka* | Serena starts her service game with a double fault but then holds with ease by taking the next four points to close out the game. An ideal start for the six-time champion.
Set 1: Serena* 1-0 Azarenka (* denotes next server) | What a terrible start for Azarenka as Serena rights away breaks her without even doing much. Surely, this is nerves speaking for Azarenka. After all, this a rematch of the two US Open finals she has lost!
Azarenka vs Serena on Ashe.
Let’s do this (again) 😤 pic.twitter.com/yVnUUT9ngQ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2020
Here’s how Victoria Azarenka made her way to the US Open semi-finals:
Quarter-final: beat Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-0
Round 4: beat Karolina Muchova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
Round 3: beat Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-2
Round 2: beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-3
Round 1: beat Barbara Haas 6-1, 6-2
Here’s how Serena Williams made her way to the US Open semi-finals:
Quarter-final: beat Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Round 4: beat Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3
Round 3: beat Sloane Stephens 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Round 2: beat Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-4
Round 1: beat Kristie Ahn 7-5, 6-3
“I am just able to compete and I am still here so that is always pleasing.
“It is scary (to be a role model for so many), such an opportunity everyday and be myself.”
“Playing better. Trying to play better from match to match. Not trying to think about the streak.
“Will have to find out, I am not sure (about how to go about Serena Williams).”
Here are the match statistics from Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka, that the Japanese won. A really tight one that!
After Naomi Osaka booked her spot in the US Open final, it is time for the second women’s singles semi-final between two moms in Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka. It is a re-match of the US Open 2012 and 2013 finals.
“It’s a lot for me (second US Open final). I kinda consider New York my second home, I love the atmosphere, even though there are no people here, this court really suits me.
“Honestly, I just felt like I was sticking it out, we were trading serves. I changed my return a bit in the third serve and so, that helped I think. It’s really hard. I had flashbacks of playing Kvitova in Aus Open final, may be that helped.
“I just wanted to come out and be positive, whether I win or lose, I want to give my 100 per cent.”
About her activism, she said, “Just knowing that I’m reaching people, being in the bubble I don’t really know what’s going on out there. A couple of days ago, when I saw the video, it was really touching, me and everyone I know cried.”
On being asked about the final against either Serena or Azarenka, she said, “I’ve played both of them, they’re both very difficult, I don’t know at this point. (‘Will you watch?’) Yes, for sure.”
That winning smile 😍@naomiosaka is through to the #USOpen final once again! pic.twitter.com/6fiHKPYGna
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2020
And that’s it! Osaka has reached her second US Open final!
In the final service game, Brady got a good start as she got the first point with Naomi Osaka serving for the match but after a couple of ball toss issues, Naomi Osaka drove a backhand to level it up at 15-15. She then threw a double fault and hit her foot with the racquet a bit as she trailed 15-30. But got a big serve next to make it 30-30. Good second serve from Osaka and then a gutsy forehand to give herself a match point. And she converted it!
Naomi Osaka has done it again 🔥
She beats Brady, 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-3, to reach her second #USOpen final in three years. pic.twitter.com/EEw6cab6Li
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2020
Set 3: Brady 6-7(1), 6-3, 3-5 Osaka* | Brady is doing a good job of just staying in the match with Osaka to give herself any kind of window and despite a fabulous Osaka backhand, Brady held her serve and left it to Osaka to serve out the match.
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