Aryna Sabalenka stages stunning comeback to thwart Madison Keys and reach US Open final against Coco Gauff

Updated 08/09/2023 at 06:12 GMT

Aryna Sabalenka will face Coco Gauff in the US Open final on Saturday, two days before taking over from Iga Swiatek as world No. 1. But the Belarusian was almost sent packing by Madison Keys in the semi-finals on Thursday night, showing tremendous resolve to battle back from the brink of defeat to come through a final set tie-break. It is the first time she has reached the final in New York.

Watch as Gauff and Sabalenka win semi-finals to set up New York showdown

Aryna Sabalenka staged a stunning comeback from 0-6 3-5 behind to deny home favourite Madison Keys and reach the US Open final.

The Belarusian, who will climb to world No. 1 when the rankings are updated on Monday, was broken in five of her opening six service games as Keys delivered a statement performance from the baseline.

Sabalenka had bowed out in the last four at Flushing Meadows in 2021 and 2022 but, just as defeat looked inevitable, the 25-year-old found another gear – eventually progressing via a final-set tie-break to win 0-6 7-6(1) 7-6(5).

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She will face another American, Coco Gauff, in the final on Saturday.

"It was crazy," said Australian Open champion Sabalenka afterwards. "I was all over the place. I was just, like, 'What can I do? She's playing unbelievable, just crushing everything, I'm not able to do anything'.

"I had zero control in the match. You just have to keep trying, keep staying there, and keep pushing it. Maybe you'll be able to turn around this game.

"Lucky me, somehow magically, I don't know how I was able to turn this around."

When Keys hits big and accurate, few can live with her.

For the opening set and most of the second, her booming returns and groundstrokes left Sabalenka in a daze as the 2017 finalist delivered a bagel in the first before earning a break in the next.

But her level dropped at the worst possible time. Serving for a place in the final at 5-4, her game deserted her and she was broken to love. The set soon went to a tie-break, which Sabalenka came through 7-1 to tie up the match.

Keys again led by a break in the third set at 4-2, but surrendered her advantage immediately as the most topsy-turvy of semi-finals headed for a 10-point match tie-break.

Sabalenka won the first four points and then thought she had reached the final after moving 7-3 ahead, only to quickly discover she still needed three more points.

Undeterred, she came home on her third match point to complete a famous comeback and tee up a mouth-watering showdown with teenager Gauff, who beat Karolina Muchova in a semi-final delayed for 50 minutes by climate protesters.

"She's an unbelievable player," Sabalenka said about Saturday's opponent.

"She's playing really incredible tennis here and the crowd will be supporting her a lot."

Sabalenka beat Gauff in their last meeting at Indian Wells earlier this year, but the 19-year-old leads the head-to-head 3-2.

"She improved a lot, so it's a different player," added Sabalenka.

"Going into this final, I think I just have to focus on myself and prepare myself for another fight. No matter what, just keep fighting and keep playing my best and do my best.

"What else can you do? You just have to be there and you have to fight for it."

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