Victoria Azarenka's 17th attempt to win the U.S. Open ended in disappointment as unseeded Wang Yafan defeated the 20th seed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on Friday. Despite being a two-time major champion and a three-time U.S. Open runner-up, Azarenka struggled with unforced errors and failed to maintain her early lead, committing 32 unforced errors and losing serve six times during the match.

After taking a 3-1 lead in the first set, Azarenka saw Wang rally back to win the set, with the Chinese player finishing it off with a strong cross-court forehand. Although Azarenka managed to force a third set by winning four consecutive games in the second, Wang, ranked 80th, dominated the final set. She quickly established a 4-0 lead and ultimately secured her victory, marking her deepest run ever in a Grand Slam.

The crowd, filled with Chinese fans still energized from Zheng Qinwen's earlier win, played a significant role in supporting Wang as she closed out the match. This victory marks a significant achievement for Wang, who had previously lost to Azarenka at the Washington Open just a month ago.