Aryna Sabalenka reached the US Open semi-finals for the second consecutive year with a straight-set win over Karolina Pliskova in New York.

It is Pliskova's fourth quarter-final exit at Flushing Meadows since reaching the 2016 final.

Sabalenka, 24, will face world number one Iga Swiatek or eighth seed Jessica Pegula for a place in Saturday's final.

Widely expected to be a blockbuster encounter between two big hitters, Sabalenka ultimately proved too strong for the former world number one as she kept alive her hopes of clinching a maiden Grand Slam singles title.

Sabalenka got off to the ideal start, twice breaking Pliskova's serve as she raced into a 4-0 lead before wrapping up the first set in just 28 minutes.

While 30-year-old Pliskova improved in the second set to force a tie-break, Sabalenka refused to relent and secured her place in the last four after firing seven aces and 30 winners without facing a break point. 

"I expected a great level with long rallies. I wanted to stay in the match and make her work," Sabalenka said in her on-court interview.

Sabalenka, searching for her first appearance in a Grand Slam singles final, will have the chance to avenge last year's semi-final loss to Leylah Fernandez.

However, the defeat ends a disappointing year in the majors for Pliskova, who suffered second-round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon after missing the Australian Open because of injury.

Sabalenka used Wimbledon ban as motivation

Speaking after beating Pliskova, Sabalenka admitted that being banned from this year's Wimbledon sharpened her focus for a run to the latter stages of the US Open.

Russian and Belarusian players, such as world number six Sabalenka, were not allowed to play at the All England Club because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Sabalenka admitted she made an effort not to watch the grass-court Grand Slam while she trained in Miami during her enforced break from the sport.

"They took away one opportunity from me, and I work really hard for this one," Sabalenka said.

"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 enjoying watching my matches."