Maria Sharapova was present during Aryna Sabalenka’s US Open semi-final match.
Aryna Sabalenka sealed a 6-3 7(7)-6 win against Emma Navarro in their US Open 2024 women’s singles semi-final clash, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday. It was an easy affair for Sabalenka as she won the first set with ease, but Navarro tried to use the home crowd’s support in the second set, but a tie breaker settled proceedings.
Maria Sharapova made a bizarre expression in a viral video.
The spotlight was also on some of the big names present in the venue to watch the match, and one of the main focus was on Russian tennis legend Maria Sharapova. The US Open’s social media handle also shared a short video of Sharapova making an awkward expression, which left her in splits.
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Retweeting the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sharapova joked, “I look like I just missed a second serve return on break point and saw my coach’s reaction.”
Sabalenka was in entertainment mode and bagged 34 winners in her semi-final match. “Even though you guys were supporting her I had the goosebumps. She’s such a great player, really tough opponent,” said Sabalenka.
The No. 6-seeded Pegula, a 30-year-old from New York, has won 15 of her past 16 matches and will meet No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.
Jessica Pegula shrugged off a sluggish start and came back from a set and a break down at the U.S. Open to defeat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 for a berth in her first Grand Slam final.
Jessica Pegula (USA) reacts after beating Karolina Muchova (CZE) to enter US Open final(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
The No. 6-seeded Pegula, a 30-year-old from New York, has won 15 of her past 16 matches and will meet No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka for the title on Saturday.
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Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up to Coco Gauff at Flushing Meadows, returned to the championship match by holding off a late push to beat No. 13 Emma Navarro of the U.S. 6-3, 7-6 (2).
Things did not look promising for Pegula early: Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up but unseeded after missing about 10 months because of wrist surgery, employed every ounce of her versatility and creativity, the traits that make her so hard to deal with on any surface.
The slices. The touch at the net. The serve-and-volleying. Ten of the match’s first 12 winners came off her racket. The first set lasted 28 minutes, and Muchova won 30 of its 44 points.
Muchova grabbed eight of the first nine games and was one point from leading 3-0 in the second set. But she couldn’t convert a break chance there, flubbing a forehand volley, and everything changed.