Aryna Sabalenka’s Friday night showdown with Leylah Fernandez at Louis Armstrong Stadium had more backstory than a Marvel movie and delivered just as much drama. How did this match unfold in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center?

Sabalenka’s Sweet Victory Over Past Demons

The World No. 1 walked onto that court carrying the weight of a 2021 semifinal loss that probably still kept her up at night. You know that feeling when someone beats you, and it just gnaws at you? That was Sabalenka for three long years. But Friday night, she flipped the script with authority, dismantling the 31st-seeded Canadian 6-3, 7-6 (2) in what can only be described as beautiful, methodical revenge.

The Belarusian powerhouse looked like she meant business from the jump. After saving three break poin

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