"Now you're cheering for me, it's a bit too late" - Aryna Sabalenka pokes fun at US Open crowd after SF win over Emma Navarro

Aryna Sabalenka took a lighthearted swipe at the US Open crowd in the aftermath of her semifinal win over home hope Emma Navarro. The win marks the Belarusian reaching the final of the prestigious hardcourt Major for the second year in a row. Last year, Sabalenka finished as the runner-up to Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka and Navarro's 90-minute clash on Thursday, September 5, started with both players breaking each other in an initially nervy first set. However, the World No. 2 soon took charge, hitting 16 winners on her way to clinching the first set 6-3. The Belarusian carried on in the same vein in the second set, storming to a 5-4 lead. Here, she engineered a match point opportunity.

Navarro, though, was not done yet, and briefly turned the tables on the two-time reigning Australian Open champion. The 23-year-old's exemplary passing shots and speed forced a tiebreak, where Aryna Sabalenka fell 0-2 behind. Eventually, the Belarusian regained control and sealed her spot in the final after employing a mix of forehand, volley and smash winners to get herself through the tense tiebreak 7-6(2).

During the post-match on-court interview, Sabalenka poked fun at the crowd in attendance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Belarusian expressed comic surprise at the crowd suddenly cheering for her after her win and talked about how they were resoundingly voicing their support for Navarro throughout the contest. However, the World No. 2 soon turned grateful, confessing that the atmosphere gave her "goosebumps".

"Well guys, now you're cheering for me. I mean, it's a bit too late. No, no, that really means a lot, and even if you guys first supported her (Navarro), obviously I had the goosebumps from you cheering up her and there was really an incredible atmosphere," Sabalenka said.

The Belarusian proceeded to laud Emma Navarro for putting up a spirited fight, particularly in the second set.

"I really enjoyed playing and she's such a great player, a really tough opponent, and I'm really happy to get through this difficult semifinal," Sabalenka added.

Aryna Sabalenka becomes first woman to reach consecutive US Open finals since the legendary Serena Williams

Serena Williams in action at the 2019 US Open women's singles final (Source: Getty)

By defeating Emma Navarro and reaching the US Open women's singles final for the second successive year, Aryna Sabalenka became the first woman since the legendary Serena Williams to achieve the feat. However, Sabalenka would want to avoid a repeat of Williams' fate across those two finals in 2018 and 2019.

In the 2018 final, Williams lost to Naomi Osaka, and produced several contentious moments that led to her receiving multiple code violations, resulting in a $17,000 fine. The following year, the 23-time singles Major winner fell to Canada's Bianca Andreescu at the last hurdle.

Aryna Sabalenka is set to face either another American Jessica Pegula in the final, or Czech Karolina Muchova, who has made waves at this year's US Open with her crafty, all-court brand of tennis.