Aryna Sabalenka Defeats Jessica Pegula to Reach US Open Final
Aryna Sabalenka has secured her place in another US Open final after producing a dominant performance against American third seed Jessica Pegula at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The world No. 1 defeated Pegula 7–5, 6–2 in the semifinal, continuing her impressive run at Flushing Meadows and moving one step closer to winning the tournament for a third consecutive year.
The opening set was closely contested, with both players battling for control from the baseline. Pegula stayed competitive during the early stages, but Sabalenka gradually increased the pressure and found the crucial breakthrough late in the set to take it 7–5.
Sabalenka then took complete control in the second set. Her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive returning put Pegula under constant pressure, while the American struggled to match the Belarusian’s intensity.
The second set lasted just 37 minutes, with Sabalenka winning 6–2 to complete the victory in convincing fashion. She finished the match with 29 winners and seven aces, underlining the quality of her attacking tennis.
The victory is particularly significant for Sabalenka because it puts her into her fourth consecutive US Open final. She has now won 19 straight matches at the tournament and remains one victory away from achieving a rare three-peat at Flushing Meadows.
If Sabalenka wins the final, she would become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win three consecutive US Open singles titles. She would also join an elite group that includes Williams and Chris Evert.
For Pegula, the defeat ends another strong US Open campaign. The American had reached the semifinals for the third consecutive year and was hoping to finally reach her first Grand Slam final since finishing runner-up to Sabalenka at the 2024 US Open.
Sabalenka will now face Elena Rybakina in the championship match. Rybakina defeated Coco Gauff in the other semifinal, setting up another major showdown between two of the leading players in women’s tennis.
With another US Open title now within reach, Sabalenka will be aiming to finish her impressive New York campaign by making history.
