Sabalenka stops Navarro, returns to US Open final

No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka ended American Emma Navarro's US Open run 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the semifinals Thursday night to reach the final at Flushing Meadows for a second consecutive year.

With Sabalenka serving for the match, the 13th-seeded Navarro fought back to earn the break and even the second set at 5-5. Navarro had another opening up 6-5 during a wobbly service game from Sabalenka, but the reigning Australian Open champion recovered to send the set to a tiebreak with the help of a timely ace.

Sabalenka, who lost to Coco Gauff in the championship match last year, will be making her fourth straight appearance in a hardcourt major final. Since the start of 2000, the only other woman to reach the final of four consecutive hardcourt majors is Sabalenka's Belarusian countrywoman, Victoria Azarenka.

Sabalenka will be seeking her third Grand Slam singles championship, having twice won the Australian Open (2023, 2024). She is bidding to become the fifth different woman to win the Australian Open and US Open in the same year since 1988, when the Aussie Open became a hardcourt event.

She will face either American Jessica Pegula, the No. 6 seed, or unseeded Karolina Muchova on Saturday.

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.