VICTORIA AZARENKA
Dancing into the Open finals. (Reuters)
The only thing that could hold Serena Williams back tonight from her first U.S. Open title since 2008 is her famous Flushing temper.
It’s the world’s No. 1 player against the world’s best player tonight at Arthur Ashe Stadium as the Serena Summer continues.
After dominating the women’s game all summer, Williams gets to cap it off tonight when she faces top seed Victoria Azarenka in the U.S. Open women’s prime-time final. “The fourth seed’’ guns for her fourth Open title after yesterday’s flawless 6-1, 6-2 semifinal whitewash of Italy’s upstart Sara Errani, the 10th seed.
Williams hasn’t won the Open title in four years but not for lack of chances. She unleashed umpire tirades in the 2009 semifinals and last year’s final against Samantha Stosur that helped cost her another Slam title. Williams exploded last year after being penalized for yelling “C’mon!’’ late in a rally.
Williams said yesterday it’s a goal to avoid a blowup.
“I did grunt once today and thought, ‘God, I hope I don’t lose the point,’ ’’ she said. “I have another round to go. My goal this year was not to get in any fights but something happens then, oh, I try to count to 10. Hopefully I can make it. I know it sounds weird, but I have more experience this year.’’
Williams said last year’s loss wasn’t devastating to her because it came just months after an artery blockage in her lung.
“It was the only Grand Slam loss I wasn’t super disappointed,’’ she said.
Williams, despite her seeding, will be a huge favorite against Azarenka, the likeable Belarus sparkplug who beat Maria Sharapova in a three-set thriller.
Williams captured Wimbledon in July and won the singles and doubles Olympic gold medal in August, beating Azarenka in both events, including a 6-1, 6-2 thumping in London. Williams said it’s “my best summer ever’’ and goes in with a 9-1 record in her career against Azarenka.
“[She’s] definitely a tough opponent, the toughest opponent there is in the draw,’’ Azarenka said. “Making it to the final makes it even more difficult.’’
But Williams was quick to praise her opponent.
“I personally think I’m going up against the most consistent and best players of this year,’’ she said. But Williams amended, “I said “this year,” indicating she believes she is the superior player.
Azarenka will have to be better tonight against Williams, who took a 5-0 lead in the first set over Errani. Williams whacked nine aces and won 24 of 26 of her first serves and didn’t have to go to the net once.
“I definitely need to try to find something to surprise her tomorrow,’’ Azarenka said.
Sharapova crushed Azarenka in the first set, getting up two breaks and 5-1. But Azarenka regained her composure late in the first set and though she didn’t win it, she rattled Sharapova, who committed a spate of double faults (10 for the match). Azarenka carried that momentum into the final two sets, her strokes deeper and more powerful, running Sharapova ragged.
It was a disappointing end for Sharapova, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, but she kept her good humor after the loss.
“I’m looking forward to checking out the ice cream truck that’s around the corner from my hotel,” she said. “It’s been haunting me.’’
After Sharapova punched a forehand long on match point, Azarenka dropped her racket and did a shuffle dance at the net. Serena did her controversial Crip Walk after winning the Olympics. May the best dance win.