Normally so good, so gritty, in the crucible of the third set, Maria Sharapova finally met her match against Victoria Azarenka.
Coming all the way back from a set and a break down, the top-seeded Azarenka prevailed in a stirring third, beating fourtime Grand Slam champion Sharapova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday to reach her first U.S. Open final.
"This one didn't go my way," Sharapova said.
"Frustrating, but it's the game of tennis. A lot of swings in the match today. Certainly had the lead and the advantage."
Entering Friday, Sharapova was 12-0 in three-setters this year, and had won 78 consecutive matches in which she took the opening set, a streak dating to 2010. But Azarenka broke in the last game to push her own 2012 record to 12-0 in matches that went the distance.
"I didn't know that statistic," Azarenka said during an on-court interview. "It's pretty good."
Perfect, actually.
Today, Australian Open champion Azarenka will play in her second major final of the season - and career - and will try to stop 14-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams' strong run. Seeking a fourth title at Flushing Meadows, the fourthseeded Williams wasted little time or energy while overwhelming 10th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy 6-1, 6-2.
The entire match lasted all of 64 minutes - or 10 minutes fewer than the third set between Azarenka and Sharapova.
"It's stressful against her," Errani said. "She puts a lot of pressure on you."
A year ago, Williams was stunned in straight sets in the U.S. Open final by Sam Stosur of Australia.
