Serena Williams versus Victoria Azarenka was one of tennis’ defining face-offs a number of years ago, when each was at the top of the sport and consistently vying for majors. The duo played superb back-to-back finals in Flushing Meadows, with Serena claiming consecutive titles in 2012 and 2013.
Fast forward to each having a family, and here we are again. Either of these celebrated players has a real opportunity to walk away with the championship.
For Serena, 38, it would be the long-sought answer to her quest in pursuit of a record-tying 24th Slam. Williams is 0-4 in the four major finals (two at US Open, two at Wimbledon) she has appeared in since the birth of her daughter Olympia.
Azarenka, after not having won a WTA match in more than a year, has been positively smoking this summer. She claimed the title at the relocated Western & Southern Open the week before the US Open, and the 31-year-old has soared through her five matches thus far in Flushing.
The eighth-seeded Serena counts six US Open titles among her 23 championships. Azarenka is seeking her first crown in New York (her two majors both came at the Australian Open).
Even if Azarenka is playing the cleaner, more effective tennis thus far, there are two important factors to consider: (1) Serena holds an 18-4 advantage in the head-to-head, and she is 10-0 against Azarenka in Grand Slams; and (2) no one in the history of the game has been better able to summon her best at crunch time than Serena Williams.
Both have plenty of power and speed. Serena owns the greatest serve in the history of the game. Azarenka has been returning serve spectacularly well, stalking the baseline and taking control of points early, often finishing them off at net.
This semifinal encounter has the makings of a highly entertaining, pick-’em dogfight. A potential classic.
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11 ноя 2020
