US Open: Aryna Sabalenka using Wimbledon ban as motivation in Grand Slam quest

Aryna Sabalenka says she used her ban from Wimbledon as motivation in her quest for Grand Slam success after reaching the US Open semi-finals.

The world number six said she used the extra “pre-season” to work on her game.

“They took one opportunity from me, and I worked really hard for this one,” she said after beating Karolina Pliskova.

Sabalenka, who beat Czech 22nd seed Pliskova 6-1 7-6 (7-4), will play Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals.

Swiatek, 21, advanced to the last four in New York for the first time with a scrappy 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win over American hope Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka ‘couldn’t watch’ Wimbledon

Sabalenka is the second player banned from Wimbledon to reach the US Open singles semi-finals after Russia’s Karen Khachanov booked a spot in the last four of the men’s draw.

She was impressive against 2016 runner-up Pliskova, firing seven aces and 30 winners without facing a break point, and said she had been working hard on her serve while she had not been allowed to play in London.

“It was a tough time, especially when I was working out in the gym and there was Wimbledon playing on the TV,” she said. “I was always turning it off because I couldn’t watch it.

“I had a lot of good memories from there, and I miss it very much. That’s why I wasn’t able to watch it, because it reminded me about the great time I had there.”

Sabalenka, who also reached last year’s semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, added: “It’s tough and it’s a lot of pressure.

“I’m just trying to think in that way, that I’m just an athlete and I have nothing to do with politics.

“I’m just trying to play my best and make sure that people enjoy watching my matches.”

Swiatek dampens US mood by taking out Pegula