Sabalenka reach back to back US Open finals after beating Navarro

Aryna Sabalenka clinched a spot in her second straight US Open final with a gritty victory over Emma Navarro in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night.

The 26-year-old and former World No.1 who finished runner-up to Coco Gauff at last year’s US Open, needed 90 minutes to defeat her American opponent and No.13 seeded 6-3, 7-6(2).

With the win, Sabalenka becomes the first woman to reach back-to-back US Open finals since Serena Williams did so in 2018 and 2019. Sabalenka has reached all four hard-court Grand Slam finals during the last two seasons.

Sabalenka moves one win away from becoming the first woman to win both hard-court Grand Slam titles in the same year since Angelique Kerber won the Australian Open and US Open in 2016. Sabalenka won her second straight Australian Open title earlier this year.

Sabalenka has also now won 28 straight hard-court Grand Slam matches against players ranked outside the Top 10. That is the longest such winning streak since Victoria Azarenka won 29 consecutive hard-court Grand Slam matches against players ranked outside the Top 10 between the 2012 and 2014 Australian Opens.

Sabalenka who is second seeded in New York this season, will next meet the winner between highflying Jessica Pegula and Karolína Muchová who lock horns later.