Aryna Sabalenka defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to capture her first US Open singles title and the third grand slam championship of her career.
How Sabalenka Secured the Hard-Court Title in New York
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka navigated a tight battle against sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula in New York, sealing victory in straight sets. The match remained deadlocked until 5-5 in the opening set before Sabalenka shifted momentum. Sabalenka raced to a set and a 3-0 lead in the second frame, but Pegula rallied to capture five consecutive games, claiming a 5-3 advantage. Sabalenka responded immediately by winning the final four games to close out the contest without needing a third set, finishing the match 7-5, 7-5.
Milestones and Historic Hard-Court Sweep
With this victory in New York, Sabalenka secured her third career grand slam singles title, having won the Australian Open for the second consecutive year back in January. She is the first woman to sweep the hard court grand slams since Angelique Kerber in 2016. Sabalenka enters this career milestone carrying a 12-match winning streak and holds a 6-2 head-to-head record against Pegula.
Pegula’s Historic Run and Ranking Rise
Jessica Pegula reached her first career grand slam singles final at the US Open, marking a major breakthrough after previously holding an 0-6 record in major quarterfinals. The 30-year-old American mounted an impressive 15-2 record during the North American summer hard-court swing, with both losses coming against Sabalenka—first in the Cincinnati Open final and then in the New York title match. Following her runner-up finish, Pegula will climb from No. 6 to No. 3 in the world rankings, matching her career-high position.
Reflections from Arthur Ashe Stadium
After converting championship point, Sabalenka dropped to the court in emotion before addressing the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. Comparing the atmosphere to her 2023 final loss against Coco Gauff—where the crowd heavily favored the American—Sabalenka acknowledged feeling warmth from New York fans this time around. “Even though I was facing Americans, they still were supporting, cheering for me a little bit,” Sabalenka told CNN after the match. Pegula reflected on her turbulent season, noting her recovery from early-year injuries that forced her to miss tournaments including the French Open. “I had a rough start to the year but was really able to turn it around,” Pegula said. “To be able to be standing here in my first grand slam final, and then coming off such a hot summer, I didn’t expect it.”
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