Swiatek bathroom break sets up Jabeur US Open title showdown

An emergency bathroom break powered world number one Iga Swiatek into a US Open final showdown with trailblazing Tunisian fifth-seed Ons Jabeur on Thursday.

Two-time French Open champion Swiatek advanced to the first US Open final of her career after coming from behind to beat Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The victory sent the 21-year-old from Poland into a Saturday final with Jabeur, who thrashed France's Caroline Garcia 6-1, 6-3 in Thursday's other semi-final.

Sabalenka, the sixth seed from Belarus, looked poised to create an upset after a dominant first set performance in which she broke Swiatek no fewer than three times.

But Swiatek was rejuvenated after a quick dash to the bathroom following the opening set.

"I kind of needed to go," Swiatek said. "For sure I felt lighter. I'm sorry - that's disgusting."

Swiatek also said the break had helped her analyse the flaws in her first set performance.

"I tried to use that time to think about what to change because I remember when I was younger all I would do in the bathroom between sets after I lost was cry.

"But this time I could think about what to change and actually problem solve."

We have a Top-5 matchup for the women's title! pic.twitter.com/l9iVzUOw8g

The break did the trick as Swiatek raced through the second set to level the match and then punished a late collapse from Sabalenka to close out a gutsy victory.

Sabalenka, who was up a break and leading 4-2 in the final set, was left distraught by the defeat. She later appeared at a press conference with mirrored sunglasses on and a baseball cap pulled over her face.

It was the third time Sabalenka has fallen short in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam.

"My team keeps telling me that I have to be proud of