Aryna Sabalenka reached the US Open semi-finals for the second consecutive year with a straight-set win over Karolina Pliskova in New York.
Belarusian sixth seed Sabalenka produced a clinical display to beat the Czech 22nd seed 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
It is Pliskova’s fourth quarter-final exit at Flushing Meadows since reaching the 2016 final.
Sabalenka, 24, will face world number one Iga Swiatek or eighth seed Jessica Pegula for a place in Saturday’s final.
Widely expected to be a blockbuster encounter between two big hitters, Sabalenka ultimately proved too strong for the former world number one as she kept alive her hopes of clinching a maiden Grand Slam singles title.
Sabalenka got off to the ideal start, twice breaking Pliskova’s serve as she raced into a 4-0 lead before wrapping up the first set in just 28 minutes.
While 30-year-old Pliskova improved in the second set to force a tie-break, Sabalenka refused to relent and secured her place in the last four after firing seven aces and 30 winners without facing a break point.Â
“I expected a great level with long rallies. I wanted to stay in the match and make her work,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview.
Sabalenka, searching for her first appearance in a Grand Slam singles final, will have the chance to avenge last year’s semi-final loss to Leylah Fernandez.
However, the defeat ends a disappointing year in the majors for Pliskova, who suffered second-round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon after missing the Australian Open because of injury.
Source: BBC