Credit: Twitter
Belarusian ace Aryna Sabalenka completed a spectacular comeback against Madison Keys of the United States after trailing 6-0, 5-3 at one point in the game on Thursday night at the US Open 2023 women's singles semi-final. However, a hilarious incident was captured during the match when the 25-year-old "thought" that she had won the game at 7-3 in the ten-point tiebreaker.
World No. 7 Madison Keys kick-started the game with a 6-0 victory in the first set and went on to take a 5-3 lead in the second set only to lose against Sabalenka 6-7 (1-7). In the third and final set, Sabalenka ended the competition in a 10-point tiebreaker and avoided an all-American US Open 2023 women's singles final.
Watch Madison Keys takes a 6-0 lead:
During the third set, Sabalenka took a 7-3 lead in the tiebreaker and thought that she won the game, which was a 10-point decider. A video has gone viral, where the Belarusian dropped her racquet as she began smiling, but quickly realised the error and resumed the game with a smile. Later, Sabalenka defeated Keys 6-0, 6-7 (1-7), and 6-7 (5-10).
Watch the video here:
Madison Keys hugged Aryna Sabalenka after the match
After the game, Madison Keys showed a heartwarming gesture as she walked over to the top-seeded women's player's side of the net to give her a hug. While talking about her early celebration, Sabalenka said, "I thought we played a tie-break up to seven. I was all over the place. Thanks, team for reminding me it’s up to 10."
Watch Madison hugs Sabalenka after the game:
Sabalenka also praised Keys and said, "She played incredible tennis, another level. Somehow, I don’t know how actually I turned around this match. Being in the final of the US Open for the first time means a lot."
With her win against Madison Keys in the semi-final, Aryna Sabalenka will now face World No. 6 Coco Gauff at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the US Open 2023 Final on Saturday, September 9. If Sabalenka defeats Gauff in the final, it will be her second Grand Slam title of the year after winning the Australian Open in January.
