Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka finally captured her first U.S. Open title after years of near-misses, defeating American sixth seed Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a thrilling final on Saturday. Sabalenka’s victory came one year after falling short in the final, with two previous semi-final appearances adding to her determination to lift the trophy in New York.
After trailing in both sets, Sabalenka fought back, showing resilience as she blocked out the home crowd’s cheers for Pegula at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 26-year-old, seeded second, secured the victory by breaking Pegula in the final game and collapsed in tears as she celebrated her long-awaited triumph.
“So many times I thought I was close to winning the U.S. Open title. Finally, I get this beautiful trophy,” Sabalenka said after the match, reflecting on her journey through heartbreaks to glory.
Pegula, playing in her first Grand Slam final at the age of 30, entered the match in top form after winning the Toronto Masters. However, despite the support of the New York crowd, she couldn’t match Sabalenka’s raw power and relentless baseline play.
“I didn’t expect to be here in my first Grand Slam final, especially after such a hot summer. I’m just really grateful for these last few weeks of tennis,” Pegula said in her post-match speech.
With rain pouring outside, the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium was closed, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. Both players traded breaks early, but it was Sabalenka who steadied her nerves at the crucial moments, surviving a four-deuce 11th game and finally breaking Pegula in a spine-tingling 12th game to take the opening set.
Pegula struggled with racket tension throughout the match, visibly frustrated as she sought to find her rhythm. Down 0-3 in the second set, it seemed Sabalenka was on her way to a comfortable win, but Pegula rallied, winning five straight games and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
However, Sabalenka responded like a champion, leveling the set with a precise forehand winner on break point and then holding serve to put Pegula under pressure. In a tense final game, Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve in a six-shot rally, sealing the match when Pegula’s forehand sailed long.
“Honestly, after being up 3-0, I didn’t expect her to come back with such a high level of play,” Sabalenka admitted. “But breaking her back gave me the belief I could close it out in two sets.”
This marks Sabalenka’s third Grand Slam title after twice winning the Australian Open. As tears flowed, she ran into the stands to celebrate with her team, savoring a moment that had eluded her for so long.
“I remember all those tough losses here, but never give up on your dream. Keep trying, and you’ll get there,” Sabalenka said, reflecting on her past disappointments.
Her path to the final saw her drop only one set throughout the tournament, with key challengers like defending champion Coco Gauff and top seed Iga Swiatek falling early. Sabalenka’s win was especially sweet after injuries sidelined her earlier in the season, forcing her to miss both Wimbledon and the Paris Games.
Sabalenka’s relationship with the New York crowd has been tumultuous, particularly after last year’s defeat to Gauff. However, she won them over with her charismatic personality, even joking about buying the crowd drinks after defeating another American, Emma Navarro, in the semifinals.
While she didn’t make good on that offer, the crowd showed their respect as she hoisted the trophy and collected the $3.6 million winner’s check. “Of course, I expected you to cheer for Jessica. It wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t,” Sabalenka told the fans with a smile. “But thank you for all the support. You make this place very special.”
The U.S. Open excitement continues as the home crowd shifts its support to Taylor Fritz, who looks to end a 21-year drought for American men in Grand Slam titles when he faces Italian top seed Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final.
