Published 10:48 IST, September 11th 2020
Serena Williams loses to Victoria Azarenka in US Open semi-final, fans stunned on Twitter
US Open 2020: Victoria Azarenka advanced to her first major final in seven years after a hard-fought win over 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.
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Former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka scored her first major win over 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams on Thursday to advance to the final of the US Open 2020. Azarenka will be up against 2018 champion Naomi Osaka in the US Open final.
Victoria Azarenka overcame Serena Williams to reach her third US Open final.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2020
How the unseeded Belarusian did it ➡️ https://t.co/FOmNAw2w4B pic.twitter.com/xuGl58zdCT
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US Open 2020: Victoria Azarenka stuns Serena Williams to advance to the finals
Thursday's loss was indeed a shocking result for the history-chasing Serena Williams, who was in hot pursuit of a seventh US Open crown and a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title (with tennis legend Margaret Court). Having last won a Grand Slam in 2017, the 38-year-old was her dominant self throughout the tournament, beating Tsvetana Pironkova, Sloane Stephens, Maria Sakkari, Margarita Gasparyan and Kristie Ahn on her way to the top four.
Meanwhile, Azarenka, 31, is enjoying a sort of a career revival, winning 11 straight games on route to her first Grand Slam final appearance since 2013. After claiming her 21st WTA title last week at Western & Southern Open, Azarenka continued her dominant streak, romping through to the top four, dropping just one set in four games. She beat Elise Mertens in the quarter-finals and Aryna Sabalenka in the Round of 16.
Also Read | How Victoria Azarenka Made It To Her First Grand Slam Quarterfinals Since 2016 At US Open
On Thursday, Azarenka was not only facing one of the all-time greats in women's tennis but also an opponent who held a 10-0 majors record against the Belarusian. Despite facing a setback in the semi-final game, where Williams took the first set by 6-1, Azarenka rallied well to win the next two sets to claim a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Williams' loss to Azarenka came as a big shock to fans, who unsurprisingly expressed their disappointment on social media:
Serena is not going to Paris. There’s no way. pic.twitter.com/vljBA3ID3u
— Ochocinco wanted me! (@Ghetto_Rapunzel) September 11, 2020
Serena Williams to her first opponent in the next tournament pic.twitter.com/63m1lM7esb
— Ryan Warne (@thouartvandelay) September 11, 2020
Serena trained during quarantine in us open surface court at home to lose after a set up 😔😷
— JP (@jun494) September 11, 2020
I hope she gets the 24 soon pic.twitter.com/DSI9aIRxgo
Victoria Azarenka to Amazon: 'It was mentally one of the strongest comebacks I've done. I had to get myself out of really big trouble. At this stage of a Grand Slam against Serena, I know she's not going to give away anything. In that way it's one of the best matches I've played'
— George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) September 11, 2020
The two-time Australian Open champion will make her third US Open final appearance - she lost the previous two to Serena Williams in 2012 and 2013. She will be up against 2018 champion and current World No.10, Naomi Osaka in the final on Sunday, September 13. Osaka advanced to the final earlier in the day by beating Jennifer Brady, 7-6 (1), 3-6, 6-3.
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(Image Credits: US Open Tennis Twitter Handle)
10:48 IST, September 11th 2020