NOS Sport•
Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka have qualified for the final of the US Open. The American (8) won in New York 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 against Naomi Osaka and the Belarussian (1) with 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 from Jessica Pegula.
For the 24-year-old Anisimova it will be her second grand slam final. Her first was two months ago at Wimbledon, in which she was wiped 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka stands for the third year in a row in the New York final and it will be her seventh grand slam final in total. The title holder won three, but this year she lost the finals on the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Heavy duel
Anisimova and Osaka made it a wonderful fight, in which they both tackled the balls from the baseline hard and went for the winners. Four-time grand slam winner Osaka, who had never lost in the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament, gave a break ahead twice in the first set, but quickly ran to 6-1 in the tiebreak.
Anisimova lost a break ahead three times in the second set, but made a great level after a scolder from coach Rick Vleeshouwers (“Stop complaining!”). She joined the winners together in the Tiebreak and the third set and, after having eliminated two breaking opportunities on 5-3, finished it deep after midnight on her third match point.
Sabalenka won for the eighth time in ten duels from Pegula, which she was in charge in the final last year. The Belarussian started well, but lost four games in a row from 4-2.
In the second and third set she held an early break lead. In the third set, Sabalenka worked away on 3-2 and 4-3 breakup opportunities. On 5-4 she missed a smash on her first match point and a simple volley on her second match point, but the third was hit.
Sabalenka and Anisimova face each other for the tenth time on Saturday and meet each other for the sixth time at a grand slam tournament. Anisimova, who beat Sabalenka at Wimbledon this year, leads 6-3.
