NEW YORK :Revenge will be at the forefront of Jessica Pegula's mind when she takes on Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open semi-finals on Thursday in a rematch of last year's final, while Naomi Osaka faces Amanda Anisimova for a place in the title decider.
World number one Sabalenka advanced via walkover after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew injured and is aiming to reach her sixth consecutive hardcourt Grand Slam final.
The Belarusian has made the semis at all four majors this season but has yet to win a title, losing in the Melbourne Park and French Open finals, and to Anisimova in the last four at Wimbledon.
Pegula arrives in peak form. Her 6–3 6–3 win over Barbora Krejcikova made her the first American woman since Serena Williams (2011–14) to reach back-to-back U.S. Open semi-finals without dropping a set.
The Buffalo native has not faced a top-50 opponent in the tournament so far but now gets the sternest test possible against Sabalenka, who denied her a first Grand Slam title in last year's Flushing Meadows final.
"I think it would be cool to get revenge, obviously," Pegula told reporters.
"Last year I walked off court thinking about everything I could have done better, but now I see how incredible that run really was. I'm playing the best player in the world, and that's exciting."
Sabalenka holds a 7–2 lead in their head-to-head record and has won their last three meetings on North American hard courts.
American Anisimova has already savoured revenge at the tournament by stunning second seed Iga Swiatek 6–4 6–3 on Wednesday, a win that comes two months after suffering a double-bagel loss to the Pole in the Wimbledon final.
Backed by a buzzing home crowd, the 24-year-old has underlined her return to top form after taking a
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