In a thrilling showdown under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Aryna Sabalenka clinched her third Grand Slam title by defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a rollercoaster US Open final on Saturday. The world number two added this New York triumph to her back-to-back Australian Open victories, solidifying her status as one of the most dominant players in women’s tennis.
Sabalenka, known for her relentless power and aggression, fought through tense moments to capture the title. Pegula, however, did not go down without a fight, recovering from 0-3 and break point down in the second set to lead 5-3, before Sabalenka ultimately pulled through.
The 26-year-old Belarusian fired 40 winners during the match, becoming the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win both hardcourt majors in the same season. Reflecting on her victory, Sabalenka said, “I remember all those tough losses in the past here, and it’s going to sound easy, but never give up on your dream. Just keep trying, keep working hard.” After years of coming close, including being runner-up last year and reaching the semi-finals in 2022 and 2023, Sabalenka finally claimed her coveted US Open title.
Pegula, who entered the tournament with strong momentum after winning the Toronto title and finishing runner-up to Sabalenka in Cincinnati, showed her resilience throughout the match. The American had won 15 of her last 16 matches on North American hard courts and put up a spirited performance. “I wish she would have at least let me get one set,” Pegula joked. “She’s one of the best in the world—super powerful, and she isn’t going to give you anything.”
Despite the pressure of playing in front of a home crowd that included sports icons like NBA star Steph Curry, Olympic gold medallist Noah Lyles, and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, Pegula struggled against Sabalenka’s onslaught of powerful groundstrokes. Yet, she managed to break Sabalenka as she served for the first set and saved four set points before ultimately succumbing on the fifth.
The second set was no less dramatic. Sabalenka surged ahead to 3-0 with the help of a Pegula double fault, but the American stormed back to lead 5-3. As Pegula tried to level the match, Sabalenka broke her in the 10th game, and after an intense rally, Pegula sent a weary shot long, sealing Sabalenka’s victory.
With this win, Aryna Sabalenka continues to etch her name in tennis history, while Pegula, despite the loss, remains a formidable force on the WTA Tour.
My Goat Sports 