Serena Williams seemed poised to make it back to the finals at the US Open on Thursday night, which would have marked her third trip to the championship match at the Grand Slam event in three years.
That bid, however, quickly fell apart.
Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka beat Williams late on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Azarenka will return to her third US Open final — her first major final appearance in seven years — and will take on Naomi Osaka on Saturday. Osaka beat Jennifer Brady in her semifinals match on Thursday to earn her second spot in the final in three years.