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After her baby break, Serena Williams has been in major finals four times (Wimbledon and US Open in 2018 and 2019), and has not yet won the 24th title
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JUSTIN LANE / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
Serena Williams missed the final of the US Open and the chance for the 24th Grand Slam title of her career.
In the semifinals of the US Open, the 38-year-old American lost 6: 1, 3: 6, 3: 6 after a strong first set to the two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka.
Williams had won her last title to date in one of the four major tournaments at the 2017 Australian Open.
Now she missed the record of the Australian Margaret Court in the ninth Grand Slam in a row.
Asarenka, on the other hand, is in the final of the US Open for the third time after 2012 and 2013 after her fifth victory in the 23rd duel with Williams.
There she meets Naomi Osaka from Japan on Saturday.
The winner of the US Open in 2018 and the Australian Open in 2019 had won her semifinals 7: 6 (7: 1), 3: 6, 6: 3 against Jennifer Brady (USA).
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"I'm so grateful for this opportunity," said Asarenka after the match.
In the duel between the mothers, the unseeded Belarusian, winner of the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, initially did not have her nerves under control.
Williams dominated in the 23rd overall comparison with Asarenka.
After a good half an hour and numerous hair-raising mistakes and massive difficulties when serving her opponent, Williams decided the first round for himself and seemed to be able to easily get the 19th win against Asarenka.
"She dug a deep hole for me," said Asarenka.
From the second set, however, the 31-year-old was transformed, played more courageously and confidently.
At the beginning of the third round, Williams then had to undergo treatment on the already bandaged left ankle and took a medical break and then had no chance.
Mothers make history
According to the tournament organizers, there is now, for the first time in Grand Slam history, one mother each in the single and double finals.
The Russian Vera Swonarewa and the German Fed Cup player Laura Siegemund will play the final against Nicole Melichar / Xu Yifan (USA / China) on Friday evening.
"I hope we were able to inspire all mommies to pursue their dreams," said Asarenka.
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Naomi Osaka wears a different mask every day at the US Open with the names of black Americans who were killed by police violence.
Philando Castile was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic check in July 2016.
Photo: Seth Wenig / AP
Osaka has so far stood in a Grand Slam final twice - and won twice: Her first major triumph was at the US Open in 2018 in a memorable match against Serena Williams (6: 2, 6: 4), which was marked by discussions between the American and the referee.
Osaka then won the final of the Australian Open 2019 against the Czech Petra Kvitova.
Before and after that, she had not made it past the round of 16 at the Grand Slams.
The 23-year-old Osaka had a high-class exchange of blows with Brady.
As the first player, she was able to take a set from the American in the course of the tournament without first earning a breakball.
Osaka used their first break chance to take a 3-1 lead in the decisive third set and then dominated the match.
After 2:08 hours, their entry into the final was certain.
"It means a lot to me. New York is my second home. I love the atmosphere here," said Osaka after reaching the final.
In protest against racism and police violence in the US, the Japanese wore a mask with the name of Philando Castile before and after the match: The black man was shot by a police officer in July 2016 at a traffic stop in the US state of Minnesota.
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