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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.
Russian and Belarusian players, such as 24-year-old Sabalenka, were not allowed to play at Wimbledon this year because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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.
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