Video - Sabalenka's (consequence-free) blunder in the US Open 2023 semifinals
Aryna Sabalenka has been the best player in the world for many months now. Highly successful in Grand Slams on hard courts, she has played in the last six finals on this surface in Majors (Australian Open 2023, 2024, 2025 and US Open 2023, 2024, and 2025).
Winning four out of six finals, Sabalenka prevailed in the US Open 2023 semifinals against Madison Keys after a tremendous battle (0-6, 7-6, 7-6 in 2h32).
After a flawless run during which she hadn't lost a single set against Zanevska, Burrage, Burel, Kasatkina and Zheng Qinwen, the then 25-year-old player had to push herself against Keys, and the two women were separated by a super tie-break to ten points in the third set.
While serving at 6-3 in her favor, Sabalenka saw the American hit a forehand into the net on the run. The Belarusian player then dropped her racket on the ground, looking at her team, overjoyed.
But the joy was short-lived for her when she realized she still had to score three more points to reach the final.
A scene that greatly amused the match commentators on Eurosport, Frédéric Verdier and Justine Henin (see video below). Eventually, Sabalenka quickly got back into the match and finished it off with a 10-5 score.
"I don't know, my mind was elsewhere. I thought we were playing a tie-break to seven points. Fortunately, my team reminded me it was to ten. But I am happy to have kept my focus despite that," Sabalenka said on the court after her victory, which opened the door to her first final at Flushing Meadows, which she ultimately lost to Coco Gauff (2-6, 6-3, 6-2).
