NEW YORK — Normally so good, so gritty, in the crucible of the third set, Maria Sharapova finally met her match against Victoria Azarenka.

Coming all the way back from a set and a break down, the top-seeded Azarenka prevailed in a stirring third, beating four-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday to reach her first U.S. Open final.

“This one didn’t go my way,” Sharapova said. “Frustrating, but it’s the game of tennis. A lot of swings in the match today. Certainly had the lead and the advantage.”

Entering Friday, Sharapova was 12-0 in three-setters this year, and had won 78 consecutive matches in which she took the opening set, a streak dating to 2010. But Azarenka broke in the last game to push her own 2012 record to 12-0 in matches that went the distance.

“I didn’t know that statistic,” Azarenka said during an on-court interview. “It’s pretty good.”

Perfect, actually.

Today, Australian Open champion Azarenka will play in her second major final of the season — and career — and will try to stop 14-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams’ strong run. Seeking a fourth title at Flushing Meadows, the fourth-seeded Williams wasted little time or energy while overwhelming 10th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy 6-1, 6-2.

The entire match lasted all of 64 minutes — or 10 minutes fewer than the third set between Azarenka and Sharapova.

“It’s stressful against her,” Errani said. “She puts a lot of pressure on you.”

Williams, trying to become the first 30-year-old woman to win the U.S. Open since Martina Navratilova in 1987, compiled a 38-6 edge in winners against Errani.

Since a surprising exit at the French Open in late May, her only first-round loss in 49 appearances at major tournaments, Williams is 25-1, including a title at Wimbledon and gold medal at the London Olympics.

Williams owns a 9-1 career record against Azarenka.

“I’ve got to do something different, to be honest,” Azarenka said.

Asked whether she would watch video of their past matches, Azarenka joked: “Well, I don’t want to be depressed.”

Bryan brothers win, set Grand Slam record

NEW YORK — At age 34, the Bryan brothers posed with the trophy with Bob’s infant daughter and chatted about Mike’s upcoming wedding.

They’ve now set the Open-era Grand Slam title record, but the pair doesn’t plan to stop adding to that total anytime soon.

The American twins won the U.S. Open men’s doubles final in straight sets for a 12th Grand Slam championship. They had been tied with Australian greats Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde for the most in the Open era, which started in 1968.

The Bryans, seeded No. 2, beat Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 without facing a break point.

— The Associated Press