Victorious Vika Earns Spot in U.S. Open Finals

World number two Victoria Azarenka defeated the unseeded Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-2 Friday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium to earn a spot in the 2013 U.S. Open women’s singles finals, her second consecutive Open finals appearance. It will be Azarenka’s fourth Grand Slam final, coming into Sunday’s women’s singles final with a 2-1 overall Grand Slam finals record.

"It’s been a long road to the final," said Azarenka. “"Today was a great match, a lot of emotions. I think the turning point was when I finally held my serve and won the first set. I stayed tough and played really well on return games and on important moments. Flavia is such a great fighter, getting to every ball, so I really had to keep my focus in the match.”

Azarenka finished with 15 winners and 25 unforced errors, while Pennetta had 19 winners and 23 unforced errors.

"I didn’t serve really well today, but she neither," said Pennetta. "I think it was a lot of wind in the court … it was moving the ball around a lot and was not easy to serve. But for me, I wasn’t serving the way I was serving before. I know I had to try to find a good serve for the start of point, and I didn’t today."

Azarenka awaits the winner of the late Friday afternoon semifinals match between top-ranked and world number one Serena Williams and the number five seed, Li Na to determine her opponent. Azarenka is one of just three women to beat Serena in 2013, and defeated Serena just last month in Cincinnati for the 2013 Western & Southern Open title. Serena holds a very commanding 13-3 lifetime head-to-head record over Azarenka, and defeated Azarenka at last year’s U.S. Open for the women’s singles title. Azarenka holds a 6-4 lifetime record over Li Na.

“It’s an amazing feeling to come out here and fight for that trophy on Sunday,” said Azarenka. “I’m definitely giving myself the best chance for my dreams here. Overall,  just being able to pick up and raise my level in the important moments, that’s what it’s all about, to be able to do that."

Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

The unseeded Flavia Pennetta advanced to the semifinals of the 2013 U.S. Open before her Friday afternoon loss to Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka celebrates her Friday afternoon win sending her to her second consecutive U.S. Open women’s finals match