Day 11 and the ladies semi-finals. 19 year old Fernandez was trying to beat a 4th seed in a row and book her spot in the US open final and her opponents was 2nd seed Sabalenka. Sabalenka got the first break of the match but Fernandez managed to hit back and take the set to a tiebreak. Sabalenka won the first 2 points of the tiebreak before Fernandez won 7 points to Sabalenka’s 1 point. Fernandez took the opening set 7-6(3). Sabalenka once again broke first and led 2-0 before Fernandez broke back and leveled at 2-2. The 2nd set then went on serve until Sabalenka broke at 4-4. A great service game from the 2nd seed and we were going the distance in the first semi-final. Fernandez managed to break in the 6th game and led the decider 4-2. Sabalenka wasn’t done yet as she broke back and held serve and the pressure was back on the teenager. A easy hold from the Canadian and she led 5-4. Amazingly the 19 year old broke to love and won the match. A fourth seed beaten and now she was in her first grand slam final.

The 2nd semi-final was between Sakkari and Raducanu. Raducanu had a tight first game but managed to fend off a break point and hold. This settled her down and she raced away and took the first set 6-1. Raducanu just needed the 1 break in the second set which she took 6-4. The 18 year old qualifier is still yet to drop a set at this year’s US Open. She also becomes the first player in history, male or female, to come through qualifying and reach a grand slam final. An impressive feat. Who will take the US Open ladies final?

Onto the fantasy league. Only 1 team ‘Highly Strung’ has a lady left in the draw. Thankfully for everyone that picked Sabalenka and Sakkari they still scored points for reaching the semi-finals. With the loss of Sabalenka we did see our third team eliminated. ‘New York Bagels’ have been sadly eliminated from the fantasy tournament.

‘Lorna’s Leaderboard’ still lead but their lead has been cut down slightly. ‘Guys and Dolls’ now sit in 2nd on their own. ‘Not the Djok’ moves up to 3rd. ‘Sets on the Beach’ reach the 200 point mark and move up to 4th. ‘Chalk Dust’ hang on to 5th place and the last prize position. It’s all up to the men now unless you ‘Highly Strung’.

Results

• Fernandez beat Sabalenka(2) – 7-6(3); 4-6; 6-4
• Raducanu beat Sakkari(17) – 6-1; 6-4

Matches to watch:

• Medvedev(2) vs Auger-Aliassime(12) – (21:00)
• Djokovic(1) vs Zverev(4) – (01:00)

Jared

Jared matriculated in 2020 from Wynberg Boys High School in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. His passion for tennis afforded him the opportunity of travelling to Europe. He is a quizmaster and a fantasy organiser.