Aryna Sabalenka emerged victorious in a thrilling US Open women’s final, defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to claim her maiden Flushing Meadows title and her third Grand Slam trophy. The 26-year-old Belarusian added this prestigious championship to her collection, which already boasts two Australian Open titles earned in the past two seasons, both on hard courts. This victory marked a triumphant return for Sabalenka, who finished runner-up to Coco Gauff at the 2023 US Open.
Pegula, a New York native whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, was competing in her first major final. Despite winning 15 out of her last 17 matches in the past month, her two losses came against Sabalenka in tournament finals.
Sabalenka appeared to have the match firmly in hand when she won five consecutive games, taking the opening set and building a 3-0 lead in the second. However, Pegula, seeded sixth, refused to fade away and injected drama into the contest. In a moment of frustration, she hit a ball off the video wall after losing a point, dislodging a small panel. This outburst seemed to release some tension for the 30-year-old American, as she then launched a five-game run of her own.
However, when Pegula served at 5-4 with a chance to force a third set, Sabalenka broke her serve to level the second set. This proved to be a pivotal moment, as Sabalenka went on to win the next three games, ultimately clinching the match in a dramatic fashion. She collapsed to the court, dropped her racket, and covered her face with her arms, lying on her back as the weight of her victory washed over her.
