Despite her status as a two-time Slam champion, Swiatek is actually the less experienced player at the late stages in New York. Het best result before 2022 came last year when she reached the fourth round after a second round run in 2019 and third round campaign in 2020. By contrast, Sabalenka has backed up her 2021 US Open campaign where she reached the semi-finals before losing to Leylah Fernandez.

 

 

As mentioned, Swiatek has two Major titles to her name, both at Roland Garros in 2020 and 2022. On the other hand, outside of the US Open, Sabalenka has been beyond the fourth round just once at a Slam, at last year’s Wimbledon where she lost to Karolina Pliskova. She avenged that loss by downing the former world number one to set her last four meeting with Swiatek in New York.

 

Head-to-head: Swiatek 3-1 Sabalenka

Not only have these two women faced each other four times on court, but all four meetings have come in the last year, their first in the round robin stage of the WTA Finals last November. Sabalenka won there 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 on the hard courts and in the altitude of Guadalajara. Since then it is Swiatek who has been in control, defeating the Belarusian in Doha, before two more wins on the clay of Stuttgart and Rome, winning in straight sets each time and without being pushed beyond 6-3 in a set.

 

 

 

Both women have faced their challenges at Flushing Meadows this year, with both recovering from a set down in the fourth round. Swiatek overcame German youngster Jule Niemeier 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 after playing well below her best, while Sabalenka made it past Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In addition, Sabalenka made it through a precarious situation in her second round match against perennial upset queen Kaia Kanepi. Down 6-2, 5-1 to the Estonian, Sabalenka roared back to win 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 to remain in the tournament and make it all the way to a shot at her maiden Major final.