US Open SF: Fernandez vs Sabalenka

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

The women semi-finalists deserve their own threads. Which will win? The unseeded 19 year old, or the #2 player in the world?

I find women's matches much harder to predict - the matches often go in one direction and then another and then sometimes back again. I think Sabalenka will make it to the final. I love them both and look forward to this match!

Who do you think will win and why do you think so???

 

[El_Yotamo]

Ditto to what I said in the other thread

 

[tennis24x7]

Sabalenka has too much fire power compared to Fernandez. She is hitting serves in the 120s

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Sabalenka has too much fire power compared to Fernandez. She is hitting serves in the 120s

Good point. But placement of that serve is the key, as in going wide to keep Fernandez triggered to run after everything so Sabalenka has an easy put-away.

 

[romeo8880]

We are finally on the same side!

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Just a bit more than two hours before this match begins!!! So looking forward to it!

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

The match is about to begin!!!! Yeah!!!! So looking forward to this! Stress-free matches tonight!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

ugh, I hate delay especially when I'm tight on time.

 

[elkwood]

I love Ferandez !! I just don't think she will get past Sabs. My dream final is Fern vs Radu. Think that
we will get Sab vs Sak

 

[Mr.Lob]

Pulling for Hernandez. But looking for Slabalenka to win in 3.

 

[MeatTornado]

Gotta get that Hernandez-Raducanu final somehow, someway. Need to see an unstoppable force meet the immovable object.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Inappropriate camera angle on that return.

 

[Fedeonic]

I smell a massacre from Aryna.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Nice rally.

 

[ttwreader]

Leylah cannot handle the power from Aryna.

 

[fundrazer]

Didn't see the first game, but impressive return game by Sabalenka.

 

[Mr.Lob]

2-0 Slabalenka playing well. Thus far too consistent and overpowering.

 

[Kralingen]

For the first time Fernandez looks like the junior player she is against a grown woman.

Sabalenka can make everyone look like a little girl but I just feel sorry for poor Leylah right now. hope she can turn it around.

 

[Fedeonic]

Sabalenka with no nonsense gameplay today, ready to destroy Fernández.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Fernandez almost ate that serve. Right in the breadbox. 3-0

 

[fundrazer]

Masterclass from Sabalenka so far.

 

[Pavla]

Laylah getting bullied, lol.

 

[InvisibleSoul]

Sabalenka completely overwhelming Fernandez thus far.

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Aryna Sabalenka has come out of the gate hot....up a break and controlling the match so far.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Crowd really want Leylah in this.

She gets on the board.

 

[HarveyPitnik]

Sabalenka in God(dess)-mode. I think this match will become more even, but hard to see that Fernandez would win in the end...

 

[MeatTornado]

That short takeback on the forehand is at least giving Leylah a chance against the power of Sabalenka in these rallies.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

LAF can hang with Osaka, she should be able to hang with Sabalenka's pace.

 

[stringertom]

This is Volkswagen vs Porsche; both WTA pros but one has so much more power to run away and hide.

This will take a major shift in gearing for Volksnandez to a plan B, if there is one or a blown wheel by Porschelenka.

 

[Kralingen]

Nice rally tolerance by Fernandez, she seems to be getting used to Sabalenka's groundstrokes a bit. Important hold.

Absolutely no idea how she's going to deal with that serve though.

 

[socaltbh3]

I've been rooting for Fernandez but Sabalenka's looking like Ivan Drago early on.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sabalenka is looking to win a singles and doubles slam in the same year. Last player to do that was Serena in 2016 when Serena won both Wimbledon singles and doubles.

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

Leylah Fernandez on the board....can she do anything on Sabalenka's serve?

 

[Ruark]

Fern was dismissed from some tennis academy in the past for being too small. She may end up being another Su-wei Hsieh. Imagine what Serena would do to her.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sabalenka is just destroying these balls. It's great to see her game, she's not a ball basher like Keys but.

 

[stringertom]

LAF can hang with Osaka, she should be able to hang with Sabalenka's pace.

2020 pre-depression Osaka would have won in straight sets in 2R.

 

[Tennis Fan States63]

I've been rooting for Fernandez but Sabalenka's looking like Ivan Drago early on.

She's definitely blasting away right now....can she keep it up?

 

[Yoneyama]

Leylah needs to avoid Sabalenkas forehand like Nadal avoids Feds if she has any hope of winning this.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Leylah Fernandez on the board....can she do anything on Sabalenka's serve?

I don't think she can. But Sabalenka serve close to 100% these 2 games?

Sabalenka serve must have dips at some point, too bad she concede a break early.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Holy crap, getting Ivan Drago vibes from Sabalenka.
Stop the match!

 

[SeeingDusk]

is this what tennis looks like between a grown woman and a little girl? saba is overpowering her badly.

 

[HarveyPitnik]

Savage bombing from Aryna! Don't think I have seen such even from her before.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Mmmm mmmm. Sabs got the power game going. 4-1

 

[MeatTornado]

If Fernandez loses then Sakkari better win, because Raducanu would be just as overwhelmed by this power in the final.

In-form Sakkari can at least punch back just as hard.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

I've been rooting for Fernandez but Sabalenka's looking like Ivan Drago early on.

Haha, totally.

 

[Jokervich]

is this what tennis looks like between a grown woman and a little girl? saba is overpowering her badly.

Pretty much. Fernandez looks like a misplaced little kid out there. Surprised she got this far tbh. Should have lost to Osaka if Osaka had her head screwed on.

 

[mightyrick]

Unfortunately for Fernandez, she hasn't faced any power players outside of Osaka (who is a shell of her former self right now) in this tournament. Going from a bunch of counter-punchers into Sabalenka... this is going to be destruction.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

So far so good for Aryna. My gut feeling has been that she would win this match, likely in two sets. We'll see though, things can turn around in a hurry in women's matches.

 

[Fed881981]

This is Volkswagen vs Porsche; both WTA pros but one has so much more power to run away and hide.

This will take a major shift in gearing for Volksnandez to a plan B, if there is one or a blown wheel by Porschelenka.

I wouldn’t write Fernandez off.