Reigning Grand Slam champions Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are locked in a battle for the US Open title and the season’s global bragging rights in women’s tennis. All three will try to claim the $1.9 million top prize and their second major title of the year in Saturday night’s championship match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Williams has won three crowns and Sharapova took the 2006 title. “I really want it bad. I’m going to do absolutely everything I have to and give it all,” Azarenka said. “First time being in US Open semi-finals is incredible feeling for me.” World No. 1 Azarenka, the top seed from Belarus, will face Russian third seed Sharapova in one of Friday’s semi-finals while US fourth seed Williams meets Italian 10th seed Sara Errani, the 2012 French Open runner-up in the other. Azarenka has ensured she will be atop the rankings next week no matter who wins and enjoyed a season that included her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. “Many people expected her to win a Grand Slam earlier than she did,” Sharapova said of Azarenka. “She always had a solid game. She was always a little mentally fragile, felt like she would bang her racquet and yell. “But I think with age and maturing you learn so much by playing matches. You learn what helps you get motivated.” No top seed has won a Grand Slam since Williams at Wimbledon in 2010 and no US Open women’s top seed has won since Justine Henin in 2007.
