WHAT HAPPENED: Aryna Sabalenka has spent the past 46 weeks atop the PIF WTA Rankings. But even the top seed and defending US Open champion admits that her year won’t feel complete without winning one of the four biggest titles in the sport. She’ll have one last chance to do just that on Saturday after overcoming fourth seed Jessica Pegula on Thursday in a thrilling three-set semifinal, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It marked a rematch of their 2024 US Open final, also won by Sabalenka, and extended the 5-foot-11 baseliner’s career head-to-head advantage to 8-2.
Awaiting the winner of the Amanda Anisimova-Naomi Osaka semifinal, Sabalenka will attempt to become the first player to win consecutive US Open women’s singles titles since Serena Williams took three straight between 2012 and 2014.
“It was a really tough match. She played incredible tennis, as always,” said Sabalenka, who totaled 43 winners, including eight aces. “I had to work really hard to get this win. I’m super happy to get the win against Jess because she’s such a great player, great fighter. They are always tough matches. I’m super happy to be in the final again.”
The high-quality match, their first meeting since the Miami Open final in March, got underway on a blustery evening in Queens, under a closed roof. The well-rested Sabalenka, who hadn’t played in four days after a Marketa Vondrousova walkover afforded her the added break, would pounce on her third break-point opportunity of the match for 4-2. But the gutsy Pegula, playing aggressively, repeatedly attacking her opponent’s backhand, would reel off four unanswered games to steal the set.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka, who fell short in both the Australian Open and Roland Garros finals, as well as the Wimbledon semis, again struck first in the second set, this time consolidating for an early 3-0 edge, eventually forcing a decider.
Serving to open the third set at 30-40, Pegula sent a forehand beyond the baseline to dig herself a hole. The American would continue to put pressure on Sabalenka’s serve, especially in the sixth game, which lasted some nine minutes. But the 30-year-old would manage to convert just two of seven break chances on the night. Serving for the match at 5-4, 40-30, Sabalenka smacked what seemed to be a routine overhead into the net. Pegula would save one more match point but couldn’t save a third, falling in two hours and five minutes.
“I don't know how I didn't break back in the third,” said Pegula. “I didn't feel like I did much wrong.
“I'm one of the top players in the world. I always feel I can go out, and I can beat these girls. Even though I maybe don't have the massive weapons that some of them have or the flashiness that some of them have, I feel like I'm always right there every time I play them."
WHAT IT MEANS: You have to give credit to Sabalenka, once a player who struggled with the expectations in big-pressure moments, especially from the service stripe. She’s grown as a player both on and off the court, and learned to embrace all that comes with being at the top of the heap. She has reached 12 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals or better, a streak that began with the US Open in 2022.
“I think that's an incredible achievement,” she said this week. “I think the key was balancing on- and off-the-court life. I think I’ve done a great job on balancing really hard work and also great recovery and some fun time outside of the tennis court. I feel like I’m really enjoying my journey, my life.
“I’m still growing because I’m learning a lot of lessons, and all of those lessons are making me tougher, tougher and tougher.”
Ten of the last 11 women’s singles titles have been won by different competitors, six of whom were first-time Slam champs. Will Sabalenka break up that trend?
“My hope is to change that,” she asserted with a smile.
MATCH POINT: This was Sabalenka’s fifth consecutive US Open semifinal. The last player to reach five straight semis in New York was American Serena Williams (2011-16).
