Serena Williams’ bid to win a record 24th Grand Slam at the US Open 2020 has come to an end. Williams was eliminated from the tournament on Thursday night in the semi-finals match against No.18-ranked Victoria Azarenko.
Williams won the first set with a blowout 1-6, and it seemed like the 38-year-old star is poised to make her third consecutive finals appearance. However, Azarenko rallied back and won the next two sets 6-3, 6-3 to secure a shot for her first US Open title.
“It’s obviously disappointing,” said Wiliams after the match. “At the same time, I did what I could. I feel like other times I’ve been close, and I could have done better. I felt like I gave a lot.”
After the defeat, Williams now turns her attention to French Open, where she last won in 2015. This year’s edition of the tournament is set to start on September 21st.
Azarenko, on the other hand, will meet Naomi Osaka in the Finals of the US Open and look to win her third career Grand Slam and first since 2013’s Australian Open. The 31-year-old Belarusian played the US Open finals twice before, last time in 2013, and lost both times to Williams.
“I think seven years ago, after I won the Australian Open and stuff, and playing kind of consistently with good results, it was kind of expected for me to be in the final. I don’t think that was the case this year,” said Azarenko. “But it feels more fun this year, more fulfilling, more pleasant for me. It feels nice, nicer.”
