Sabalenka reaches US Open semifinals

Belarus’ world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka cruised into her second straight Grand Slam semifinal, dispatching world number 9 Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, at the US Open, BelTA has learned.

The match lasted for an hour and 27 minutes. The Belarusian will face Canada’s world number 73 Leylah Fernandez who fought through world number 5 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka beat Serbia's world number 94 Nina Stojanovic, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-0, in the opener. Then she cruised past Slovenia’s world number 40 Tamara Zidansek, 6-3, 6-1, and solved world number 29 Danielle Collins of the United States, 6-3, 6-3. The Belarusian stormed past her former doubles partner, world number 16 Elise Mertens of Belgium, 6-4, 6-1, in the round of Last 16.

The US Open 2021 prize money is $57.5 million. Winners in the men’s and women’s singles events will earn $2.5 million each. The competitions will complete on 12 September. Dominic Thiem of Austria and Naomi Osaka of Japan were US Open champions last year.