NEW YORK: In a breathtaking display of determination and resilience, second seed Aryna Sabalenka delivered a stunning comeback at the U.S. Open, overturning Madison Keys in a thrilling three-set match, with a final scoreline of 0-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(5). The electrifying showdown unfolded on Thursday, dashing the dreams of the home crowd longing for an all-American women's final. Sabalenka will now aim to extend the heartbreak for U.S. tennis enthusiasts as she faces Coco Gauff in Saturday's championship clash. Gauff secured her spot in the final after overcoming Karolina Muchova, 6-4, 7-5, in a match marred by an environmental activist's bizarre protest that brought play to a halt for nearly an hour at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Amidst a euphoric crowd adorned with American flags, hopes were soaring when Madison Keys delivered a crushing bagel to the Belarusian in the opening set and surged ahead 5-3 in the second, serving for a place in the final. But Sabalenka, undeterred and brimming with determination, had other plans.
The turning point arrived when Sabalenka mounted a spectacular comeback, breaking Keys to narrow the gap to 5-4, reigniting the competitive fire. Two tie-breaks later, Sabalenka emerged victorious, exiting the court as a finalist in her second Grand Slam event of the season. In a showdown featuring two of the most powerful hitters in women's tennis, it was Keys who initially dominated, leaving spectators in awe. Sabalenka, poised to ascend to the world number one ranking, had her work cut out for her.
Basking in the fervor of the home crowd, the 17th-seeded Keys unleashed a barrage of winners, breaking Sabalenka's serve three times to seize the opening set 6-0. The Belarusian faced further adversity as Keys secured a 2-1 lead in the second set, resulting in Sabalenka's visible frustration, accompanied by racquet-smashing outbursts.
However, just as Keys served for a spot in the final, Sabalenka summoned her indomitable spirit. She secured her first break of the match, leading to a tie-break that she dominated, closing it out with a commanding score of 7-1. This unexpected turn of events propelled the match into a third set, leaving fans in awe of the unfolding drama.
As tension mounted, both players traded breaks in a tightly contested third set, ultimately culminating in a super tie-breaker. Once again, Sabalenka displayed her mettle, convincingly dominating the tie-breaker with a final score of 10-5. For Keys, who previously contested the last all-American women's final in 2017, which she lost to Sloane Stephens, this was a poignant missed opportunity that brought her to tears.
Speaking emotionally after the match, Keys said, "I think everyone at the start of the tournament would obviously be really, really excited to be in the semis. Right now, it sucks. I just think being able to take this and turn it into a positive is really possible. There is still a lot to be proud of and still tons of tennis to play this season."
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