US Open semi-final standings: Sakkari-Raducanu Keys

[ad_1]

Yes, the US Open lost a lot of star power when Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty left earlier in the event.

But this void did not last long. Emma Radocano, 18, ranked number 150, and Leila Fernandez, 19, ranked number 73 in the world. And while their talent has never been questioned, the idea of ​​them reaching the golden square at one of the biggest events on the calendar must feel like a dream.

“I imagined myself playing in every tournament, in every Grand Slam, on the biggest stage,” Fernandes said after the quarter-finals. “When I was younger, since I used Justin Henin as a great example, I used to imagine myself playing against her. I also imagined playing against Serena and Venus, and in the past few years playing against Osaka in a big tournament.

“When I was younger, I always saw myself on a big court in front of a lot of people and having fun on the court.”

Can teens continue to play at the level they did almost two weeks ago in New York? What adjustments do they have to make against their more established opponents in No. 17 Maria Skari and No. 2 Arena Sabalenka?

And most urgently, who will qualify for the US Open final on Saturday in order to claim the title? Our team breaks it down.

No. 17 Maria Scari vs Emma Raducano

Scary Key: Be bold, be brave

Maria Skari is famous for her warrior qualities, but her fighting spirit is as practical as it is innate, because it leads to a more active and effective game. Scary knows that courage is the key to pulling her through the biggest matches.

“[Bravery] It’s something I’ve been working with [coach Tom Hill] Since the end of last year, Scary said on Monday. But after a mean hard-court swing led to the US Open, Scarry said she “lost my identity, that’s how I called it. I lost myself, a part of myself.”

“I have found a way to go back and feel again what I felt there today. It is just a process in practice and all that has helped me be braver.”

Scary, 26, is self-confident and knows what she has to do to excel. That was evident in her late-night 3h30 win over Bianca Andreescu, which ended just after 2:00am on Tuesday in a match that had more winners than the former US Open champion (46 to 39).

“I was more brave after a certain point in the game, and then I raised my energy a little bit,” Scarry said after that win. “I said, ‘Maria, if you want to win this match, you have to go for it.’…I just wanted to be braver, and that’s what I did.”

Not many players are as fast and powerful in defense as Scary, but when she’s more daring on the big occasions, that’s when her game levels rise. The pattern continued with her victory over Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals. At one point, Scary had 22 consecutive points on her serve and together she won 92 percent of points behind her first serve.

With that mentality, Scary moved to her second Grand Slam semi-final this season. You’ll need to maintain that mentality against her free-swing semifinalist, Emma Raducano. But Scary has learned exactly what kind of fighter she should be, and if she puts on a brave play, she’ll have an excellent chance at her first Grand Slam final. – Jason Jozuyak

Raducanu key: keep her head down

A streak of successful outcomes can create momentum—and faith, and the heightened confidence that goes with it. Wednesday, Raducanu simply had more against gold medalist Belinda Bencic. After losing 1-3, Radocano recovered to win 11 of 15 matches and was relegated to the semi-finals to 17th Maria Scari.

The phenomenon of Great Britain kept statisticians reeling. Best: She’s the first qualifier of either gender to reach the US Open semi-finals in the Open Era, and only the fourth to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.

“This is the first time I hear today that I was the first to reach the semi-finals of the qualifiers,” Radokano told reporters. “I had no idea before. Yeah, I’m not here to chase any records now. I just care about what I can do right now and in the next match.”

Keep in mind that this is only the fourth major draw at the Tour level – and Bencic was the first 40 female WTA players she ever faced. Somehow, Raducanu has won all 16 sets she’s played, with only one (7-5 ​​in the playoffs, against Maryam Polkvadze) getting a little worrisome.

Therefore, for Raducanu, this stunner, which was unexpected for him, requires more of the same. Keep your head down, focus on every point and keep playing with that confidence you built around you like one of England’s great medieval castles.

“I didn’t expect to be here at all,” said Radocano. I mean, I think my flights were booked at the end of qualifying, so it’s a good deal. There on the field today, I was saying to myself, “This might be the last time you play on Ashe, so you can also go for it and enjoy it all.”

Keep this momentum going. – Greg Garber

.

[ad_2]