Sabalenka continues rampage, reaches US Open final after sweeping Navarro

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Aryna Sabalenka’s stellar campaign in the ongoing US Open Grand Slam event continues after dominating Emma Navarro in the semifinals of the women’s singles- 6.3, 7.6- to reach the championship stage on September 6, 2024, in Queens, New York.

Fresh off a demolition exhibition over Paris Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng, Sabalenka maintained her high-level outing to dispose the American challenger in straight sets.

Tearing a page from her strategy against Zheng, Sabalenka continued to apply pressure and kept Navarro on the back foot for the whole duration of the match.

Navarro, who is known as a power shot-maker in the tournament, was neutralized completely as Sabalenka just overwhelmed and countered her with a variety of top-spin attacks.

Navarro’s points came mostly from her flat forehands which was easily answered with Sabalenka’s tricky top-spin shots that kept on kissing the baseline.

A 6-3 start from Sabalenka steered her to the match’s momentum and never looked back despite Navarro waking up in the second and final frame.

Navarro displayed a better service game in the second set, helping her keep within striking distance to force a deciding tiebreaker.

The American ace looked comfortable in the first few baseline rally exchanges but soon as Sabalenka shifted gears and played the aggressor, that then marked the momentum-clinching 3-0 run.

With the late offensive pick-up that Sabalenka gained in the final four game possessions, Navarro just ran out of gas and could only watch the world no. 2 shred her apart with her consistent forehand bombs.

Sabalenka will have a day of rest before returning to the Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 8, 2024, against Jessica Pegula in the championship match.