Sabalenka beats Navarro to reach final

Belarus player took the last seven points to defeat American opponent

- HOWARD FENDRICH

NEW YORK When things suddenly got quite tight in the second set of Aryna Sabalenka’s U.S. Open semifinal, and the Arthur Ashe Stadium spectators suddenly got quite loud while supporting her American opponent, the 2023 runner-up found herself flashing back to a year ago at the same site.

“I was like, ‘OK, Aryna, you have to stay focused. Stay in your thoughts. Focus on yourself,’ ” Sabalenka said. “And, yeah, I was thinking a lot.”

The No. 2-seeded Sabalenka moved into her second consecutive final at Flushing Meadows with a strong start and a late surge, taking the last seven points to beat Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (2) on Thursday night with her usual brand of high-risk, high-reward tennis.