The US Open semi-final between home player Madison Keys and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka was a match that swung considerably, both game-wise and emotionally for the players.
Keys started brilliantly, zeroing in on Sabalenka – who will be the new world number one next week.
Keys began to shake
And even in the second set, Keys looked set to take home. She broke early, and had the serve at 5–4 and thus a nice position to serve home the match.
But then she started shaking, while Keys found the game that made her the new world number one. She broke blank, and then took home the set.
Long tie break
Even the third set went to a tiebreak. But in the third and decisive set, the US Open plays until ten, which Sabalenka forgot. When Keys hit a ball into the net and Sabalenka went up to 7-3, Sabalenka dropped the racket and grabbed her face, looking to think she had won.
But she hadn't. But soon she got to celebrate for real. She managed to reload and, and when Keys knocked out a ball that made it 10-5 to Sabalenka, the Belarusian was able to drop to her knees and celebrate reaching a US Open final for the first time in her career.
"It means a lot to me," Sabalenka said in the post-match victory interview, admitting that she had forgotten the rules when it came to the decision.
"I thought we played a tiebreak until seven. It was crazy, but thank you for reminding me it was up to ten. I'm glad I was able to refocus.