Aryna Sabalenka will face world number one Inga Swietake or Jessica Pegula.© AFP
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the semi-finals of the US Open for the second year in a row on Wednesday. The 24-year-old from Belarus will face world number one and French Open champion Inga Swietake or Jessica Pegula of the United States for a place in the final on Saturday. World number six Sabalenka, who was also a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2021, scored seven aces and a total of 30 winners behind Pliskova, the 2016 runner-up in New York, without facing a break point.
“I expected a great level with the long rallies. I wanted to stay in the match and make it work,” Sabalenka said.
The Belarusian has lost to Swietec three times in 2022 without winning a set, holding a career advantage 3-1 over Pegula.
“They are both tough rivals. I have to fight and do my best. I am ready for a great fight,” he said.
Sabalenka is making the most of her impressive second round performance in New York when she saved two match points against Kaya Kanepi and went 1-5.
On Wednesday, he completed the first set in just 28 minutes after three service breaks.
The 30-year-old Pliskova made only one winner in the opener, while making five double faults.
publicized
Czech world number 22 Pliskova saved two break points in the eighth game of the second set but could not stop Sabalenka’s drive to the last four.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article