Angelique Kerber remains the only woman in the 21st Century able to win both the Australian Open and the US Open in the same season, doing so in 2016
Sabalenka fails to join Kerber in hardcourt record after US Open defeat
Tennis NewsSunday, 10 September 2023 at 19:00
Aryna Sabalenka has just missed out on joining Angelique Kerber in holding an impressive hardcourt record after the former was defeated in the final of this year's US Open.
Second seed Sabalenka had a very strong run at the last Grand Slam of the year in New York. The Belarusian did not drop a set before the semi-final, ousting thirteenth seed Daria Kasatkina and twenty-third seed Qinwen Zheng in straight sets along the way.
However, she ran into a bit of difficulty in her semi-final match against Madison Keys. The American dominated the first set 6-0, but Sabalenka fought back incredibly hard to win the match 0-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5). This saw her reach her first final at Flushing Meadows, after having been defeated in the semi-finals for two consecutive years in 2021 and 2022.
Sabalenka defeat puts Kerber's record out of reach
After confirming her place in the final, fans pointed out that if Sabalenka won against sixth seed Coco Gauff, she would equal former World No. 1 Kerber's record of winning both the Australian Open and US Open in the same season. So far, the German is the only WTA player to have done this in the 21st century.
Sabalenka lifted the trophy at Melbourne back in January of this year after defeating Elena Rybakina in the final 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. This was her first and only major title to date.
In the final of the US Open, the 25-year-old started out strong, winning the first set 6-2. Unfortunately for her though, Gauff rallied and fought back in front of her home crowd, ultimately emerging victorious 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. This means that Sabalenka will not equal Kerber's record at least for another year.
Kerber's successful season
Kerber achieved this feat back in 2016. She was seeded seventh at the Australian Open, ousting Victoria Azarenka and Johanna Konta to set up a clash with top seed Serena Williams in the final.
Kerber took the first set, but Williams came back to win the second 6-3, forcing a decider. However, Kerber held her nerve and won the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to lift her first Grand Slam trophy.
Following this, the now 35-year-old went on to be ousted in the first round of the French Open but reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2016, which she would go on to win two years later.
Finally, she arrived at the US Open, where as the second seed she stormed her way to the final, not dropping a single set along the way as she defeated the likes of Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki. In the final, she met Karolina Pliskova, whom she beat 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
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