Despite a shaky game, Azarenka tops Pennetta for spot in US Open final

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Victoria Azarenka advanced to her second straight U.S. Open final Friday, beating Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-2 in a nervous, mistake-filled semifinal.

The players combined to hold serve in only five of 18 games.

The second-seeded Azarenka, the Australian Open champion in 2012 and 2013, improved to a tour-best 31-1 on hard courts this year. She is trying to become the first person to win the Australian and U.S. Opens in the same year since Martina Hingis in 1997.

Azarenka will play the winner of the later semifinal between Serena Williams and Li Na. A Williams-Azarenka final would be a rematch of last year’s title match, which Williams won in three sets.

Azarenka hit 15 winners and committed 25 unforced errors while holding her serve only four of nine times.

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Eddie Pells

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