Going into the US Open, both players were in stellar form. Azarenka beat Samantha Stosur, the defending champion, in three sets in the quarterfinals, then topped third-seeded Maria Sharapova.

Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis, the defending champion, met for the 1998 US Open title. After posting one of the best seasons in WTA history in 1997, Hingis’ rivals began to make some ...