Swiatek, Jabuer set up blockbuster US Open final

World No 1 Iga Swiatek rallied from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-1 6-4 and reach her first US Open final, where she will meet Ons Jabeur today for the trophy.

After a sluggish start, the Pole raised her level significantly in the second set and overcame an early break in the decider by winning the final four games to see off the powerful Belarusian.

The two-time French Open champion is the first Polish woman to ever reach the US Open final, where she will face off dynamic Tunisian Jabeur after she cruised in her semifinal earlier on Thursday.

Swiatek and Jabeur are 2-2 in their four career meetings.

Ons Jabeur executed a stunning 6-1 6-3 demolition of Caroline Garcia, ending the Frenchwoman’s hot streak to reach her second Grand Slam final of the year.

Garcia had not dropped a set in reaching the last four but immediately ran into problems as Jabeur broke her in the opening game before taking the first set in a blistering 23 minutes, with six aces and 11 winners.

Rolling into her first Grand Slam semifinal on a 13-match winning streak, Garcia was denied the most reliable tool in her arsenal – her big serve – and never had the momentum.

Jabeur, who became the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon this year and has become known as Tunisia’s “Minister of Happiness”, shouted with joy after she sent an un-returnable serve over the net for the win.

“It feels amazing. After Wimbledon, there was a lot of pressure on me and I’m really relieved that I can back up my results,” she said.

“The hard court season started a little bit bad but now I’m very happy that I made it to the finals here.” – Reuters