New York: Victoria Azarenka ended Serena Williams’ latest bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, rallying for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in the U.S. Open semifinals.
Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, advanced to her first major final in seven years and will play 2018 U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka on Saturday.
Williams appeared she would reach her third straight U.S. Open final easily after rolling through the first set, breaking her opponent twice to win 6-1.
But Azarenka won five straight games to close out the second set and surge to a 3-0 lead in the third, going on to beat Williams for the first time in their 11 Grand Slam meetings.
Williams was not helped by a jarred ankle early in the third set that required a medical time out. With the latest loss, Williams' quest to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam singles titles continues.
