No. 2 Victoria Azarenka is again on the threshold of US Open glory after an erratic, but successful semifinal performance, reaching her second women’s singles final in as many years with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.
As was the case in 2012, she will again meet Serena Williams in the final. "It's an amazing opportunity, something that every player dreams of, to be in the final of the US Open and play against the best player in the world," said Azarenka.
"It's something that I'm so excited about, and I can't wait to go out and play." Both Azarenka and Pennetta fought through inconsistent performances during the 52-minute opening stanza.
Seven breaks of serve occurred in the first nine games, as the harder-hitting Azarenka failed to find her touch early. Despite 18 unforced errors to just eight winners, the 24-year-old Belarusian cashed in on her sixth set point with an unreturnable serve from the ad court to take the first set 6-4. In the set, Pennetta was a perfect 3-for-3 on break point opportunities, but held her own serve just once.
The second set featured another three breaks to start, Azarenka ending the odd give-and-take with a hold, then a sweep of points at love to break and seize a formidable 4-1 lead. Pennetta would force Azarenka into a pair of mishits to convert her fifth break point of the match and get the second-set score to 4-2, but in the next game, the Italian would guide two consecutive makeable approach shots into the tape, losing her serve yet again.
Azarenka would serve the set out and punctuate the win with a crushing forehand winner. In all, Azarenka was broken five times, Pennetta lost her serve eight times in the one hour, 34 minute match. "It was a little bit tricky," said Azarenka of her uneven play. "You know, just one shot wasn't working and threw my rhythm a little bit off-blanace. I felt like I was rushing too much."
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