New York (AFP)

Naomi Osaka will return to the final of the US Open on Saturday, two years after her title, where she will face Victoria Azarenka who put an end, perhaps definitively, to Serena Williams' quest for a 24th major title.

"Seven years since my last final? Seven is my favorite number, so it couldn't be otherwise!"

started Azarenka, all smiles, after qualifying 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

A qualification obtained from a very very hard fight, with blows of rackets and decibels, against Serena Williams who had beaten her in the final at Flushing Meadows in 2012 and 2013.

At almost 39 years old (September 26), the American knew she had to quickly take charge of the game if she wanted to come out against the Belarusian.

And indeed, she completely smothered her opponent in the first round.

But it was another Azarenka who resumed the game in the second set, holding the rally, hitting and shouting as loud as Williams, and committing only one direct foul in the whole set.

Azarenka never relaxed again or lost the ascendancy.

Even when Williams requested a medical time out to have an additional bandage placed around an already scrupulously strap-on left ankle.

"I knew the game wasn't over in the first set, and the same when I led 5-3 in the third. I've been there before, but at the time I was young, I had a big ego, all of that has shrunk since ... "Azarenka commented.

- "Pleasure" -

At 31, she returns to the highest level after giving birth in 2016 and postponed her return until mid-season 2018 due to a legal battle for custody of her son.

For her third attempt in the final at Flushing Meadows, the winner of the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open will face Naomi Osaka.

The two players should have faced each other in the Cincinnati final, just before the US Open, but Osaka withdrew just before the match due to a left thigh injury.

"I'm excited to meet Naomi, we should have faced each other two weeks ago, she's a very powerful player, you have to be strong but above all have fun," Azarenka commented.

On Thursday, the 22-year-old Japanese, 9th in the world, hardly dismissed the American Jennifer Brady (41st) 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-3.

She won the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open, but hadn't made it past the Round of 16 in Major since.

Against Brady, 25, Osaka appeared very solid and full of confidence.

"I wanted to come out of this period of confinement by being positive, it doesn't matter if I lose or win, but knowing that I would make 100% of the effort," she commented.

- Serena "is not so strong anymore" -

Both players produced very good tennis, served the lead (10 aces for Brady, 9 for Osaka), had a lot of winning shots (35 each) and made few unforced errors given the faceoff ( 25 for Brady, 17 for Osaka).

"We kept our commitments, I had to make some adjustments to his serve," said Osaka.

If Brady is on an upward slope and can be satisfied with her run at Flushing Meadows, she who had never passed the round of 16 in a Grand Slam, Serena's defeat could have more consequences.

After four failures in the final (Wimbledon 2018 and 2019, US Open 2018 and 2019) and this defeat in the semi-finals in a tournament neglected by six of the ten best players in the world, will she be able to win this 24th Grand Slam title that would match Margaret Court's record?

Mats Wilander, winner of the US Open 1988, doubts: "She is not as strong as before (...) she can no longer beat her best opponents 6-2, 6-2. the locker room, the players realize they have a chance against her. She's still very strong, but more extraordinary, "he told Eurosport.

Disappointed, Serena does not however want to give up.

"I will be in Paris" for Roland-Garros from September 21, she promised.

© 2020 AFP