World number two Victoria Azarenka returned to the US Open final for the second straight year after the Belarussian ended the fairy-tale run of Italian Flavia Pennetta in a straight sets semifinal victory on Friday 6-4, 6-2.
“I’m so excited, just like the song,” Azarenka said during her on-court interview right after the match “It’s been a long road to the final and it’s an amazing feeling to come out here and fight for that trophy on Sunday – I’m definitely giving myself the best chance for my dreams here.”
Azarenka has now reached her fourth Grand Slam final and she’s 2-1 in her first three outings, winning the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013 and finishing runner-up to Serena Williams at the US Open last year.
When asked what should be her strategy to defeat her final opponent Serena Williams in the final, Azarenka said:
“You’ve got to fight. You’ve got to run, you’ve got to grind, and you’ve got to bite with your teeth for whatever opportunity you have out there. She’s obviously an amazing player. She’s the greatest player of all time.”
At the US Open 2012 final last year, Azarenka was serving for the title against Williams but was broken and Williams went on to win the remaining games to seal the victory.
