Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka roars past Jessica Pegula to storm into US Open final

Aryna Sabalenka is back in the US Open final after defeating local favorite Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, repeating the result of the 2024 final. The defending champion advances to her third consecutive US Open final, which will be her 7th Grand Slam final.

The 3-time major champion overcame a difficult start, relying on her strong service game to stay ahead. She was far more aggressive than her opponent, hitting over 40 winners compared to Pegula's 21. Sabalenka secured a victory that puts her in position to win her first major title of the season, after falling in the finals of the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year.

Both players stuck to their game plans, starting out with good numbers on their first serves and waiting for an opportunity on the return. We had to wait several games for one of them to falter, with Sabalenka creating several opportunities in the 6th game and securing the first break of the match, going up 4-2.

However, the one who better controlled her emotions was Pegula, who stayed calm and broke back in the next game. The home player seized the momentum and went on a run of points, dominating Sabalenka from the baseline with several winners, bringing the score to 4-4.

An unforced forehand error from Sabalenka gave Pegula the lead—securing her second consecutive break—and the chance to serve for the set. The American showed conviction, closing it out with several good first serves to win 6-4. The 2024 runner-up had a 77% first-serve percentage and won 74% of those points, taking 16 of the last 20 points played and holding her last two service games at love.

Sabalenka requested a medical time-out and quickly left the court to refresh herself before returning. The world No. 1 came back and quickly took control of the match, easily holding a couple of service games and securing an early break to go up 3-0.

Both managed to hold their serves, and Sabalenka looked to be in much better form in the second set, playing with precision from the baseline and dominating the rallies. At 4-1, she had a chance for a double break but couldn't convert it, which was repeated at 5-2, where she again had a break point—and a set point—when Pegula was serving to stay in the match. The 3-time major champion couldn't convert on the return but held her serve flawlessly, closing the set 6-3.

Sabalenka took a set in which she won 74% of her service points and didn't concede a single break point. The Belarusian dominated with 15 winners to Pegula's 7, as Pegula had only managed a 47% first-serve percentage, which Sabalenka took full advantage of to create break opportunities in most of Pegula's service games.

The defending champion took the lead at the start of the final set, getting an early break and then holding serve to go up 2-0. Pegula once again started from behind, but she managed to find good service games—holding her serve at love twice consecutively and closing the gap.

Sabalenka was serving at 3-2 and saved three break points to maintain her lead. The world No. 1 won more than 80% of the points played on her first serve but struggled with her second serve. When the score was 4-3, she saved another break point and secured her service game to close out the set. In the final moments, Sabalenka incredibly missed a smash on her first match point and a volley on her second chance. However, she showed resilience, maintained her composure, and ultimately closed out the victory 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

In the final, she awaits the winner between Naomi Osaka and Karolína Muchová, who will face off in the second night session match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Interestingly, the world No. 1 has a losing record against both. She fell to Osaka in their only previous encounter back in the 2018 US Open Round of 16 (a tournament that Osaka ended up winning).

Against the American, she has a losing record of 3-6, including recent matches in the last two Grand Slams: Sabalenka's victory in the Round of 16 at Roland Garros, and Anisimova's victory in the semifinals of Wimbledon.