Victoria Azarenka ended the latest bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title from Serena Williams, rallying for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in the semifinals of the US Open. Azarenka, a twice-time Grand Slam winner, advanced to her first major final in seven years and on Saturday will face US Open Winner 2018 Naomi Osaka.

Serena Williams injury:

They were scheduled to compete in the Western & Southern Open final, played in Flushing Meadows immediately before the US Open this year. Still, Osaka withdrew due to a hamstring injury.

It appeared that Williams would comfortably hit her third straight US Open finale after rolling through the first set. 

But Azarenka won five games straight to defeat Williams for the first time in their 11 Grand Slam meetings to close the second set and sprint to a 3-0 lead in the third.

“Seven years ago? That is my number of favourite’s meant to be, I suppose. I am very thankful for this chance, “said Azarenka, who won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013 and who lost both of those two years to Williams in the US Open finals.

 “You’ve got to beat the best players on the way to the finals and today was that day.”

The loss once again left Williams short of No. 24. She defeated in the final of four of the previous seven Slams, including in 2018 and 2019 at Flushing Meadows. 

A little more than two weeks away with her 39th birthday, the question would become: How many more chances would Williams get?

This was Williams’ fourth consecutive three-setter in New York, and Azarenka finally got off to a 4-0 lead in 15 minutes, although she was much better at the start Thursday.

Evidence of the brilliance of Azarenka: in the second set she compiled 12 winners and only one unforced error, then continued her mastery of baseline in the third set, particularly with her backhand.