Aryna Sabalenka moved into the U.S. Open final with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in the tournament’s first women’s semifinal on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, according to Yahoo Sports. The win leaves Sabalenka one victory away from achieving a three-peat at the tournament.
Aryna Sabalenka Advances to U.S. Open Final With Victory Over Jessica Pegula
Only two women have previously engineered a three-peat at the U.S. Open: Chrissie Evert, who won four consecutive titles from 1975 to 1978, and Serena Williams, who won three in a row from 2012 to 2014. With her latest run, Sabalenka has now won 20 straight matches at the U.S. Open and became the first woman to reach four straight U.S. Open finals since Williams accomplished the feat from 2011 to 2014.
Match Breakdown and Decisive Moments
The semifinal clash marked the third consecutive year that Sabalenka and Pegula have squared off in Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka previously beat Pegula in the 2024 U.S. Open final and defeated her in three sets in the semifinals the following year.
During Thursday’s semifinal, Pegula served to stay in the first set at 5-6, falling behind 0-40. At 15-40, Pegula netted a forehand after Sabalenka ripped a forehand that hit the line, giving Sabalenka the first set 7-5. Both players served over 70% on first serves in the opening set.
In the second set, Sabalenka broke for a 3-1 lead using a 91 mph inside-out crosscourt forehand return winner. She followed by hitting a running forehand winner up the line to hold serve for 4-1. With Pegula serving to stay in the match at 2-5, the American hit a double-handed backhand long to bring up match point at 30-40. Sabalenka then crushed a forehand winner into the corner on match point to secure the win.
Reflecting on the match afterward, Pegula acknowledged her opponent’s high level of play. Probably the best match she’s played this year, I mean I thought her level was insanely high,
Pegula said. I don’t know who pissed her off today, hopefully it wasn’t me, but it might’ve been, I don’t know. She played insane. She played a super high level. Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today.
Setting Up the Championship Final
In Saturday’s final, Sabalenka will face No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina, who rallied past No. 3 seed Coco Gauff after dropping the first set in the other semifinal, according to reports from The Washington Post. Rybakina previously defeated Sabalenka in this year’s Australian Open final and enters the matchup having supplanted Sabalenka as the world No. 1 ranking holder.
Asked before the semifinals whether she would trade the No. 1 ranking for a three-peat, Sabalenka responded, Yes, three-peat. Sounds great.
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