World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is on the brink of defending her US Open title after a dramatic semifinal victory over Jessica Pegula on Thursday night. The Belarusian star overcame a shaky start and showcased her trademark resilience to secure a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in just over two hours on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Sabalenka, who has endured a rollercoaster season marked by near-misses in major finals, celebrated with an emotional roar as she clinched victory on her third match point. Pegula, cheered on by the New York crowd, fought valiantly by saving two match points in the final game, but Sabalenka’s determination proved too strong.
“I badly wanted to give myself another opportunity, another final,” Sabalenka reflected after the match. “I want to prove to myself that I’ve learned from those tough lessons and that I can perform better in finals.”
The 27-year-old’s 2024 season has been both brilliant and frustrating. She reached the finals of the Australian Open and French Open but fell short on both occasions, before suffering a semifinal exit at Wimbledon. Adding to the pressure, her comments following a loss at Roland Garros sparked controversy, though she insists she has moved forward. “What happened in Paris is never going to happen again,” she vowed.
Against Pegula, Sabalenka showed mental fortitude when it mattered most. After losing the opening set, she rebounded with aggressive baseline play, breaking early in the second set to level the match. In the decider, Pegula threatened with multiple break-point chances, but Sabalenka held firm, producing clutch serves and “ridiculous shots” to shut the door.
For Pegula, it was another painful reminder of how close she is to breaking through on the biggest stage. “I don’t know how I didn’t break back in the third,” she admitted. “She just came up with some incredible shots.”
Sabalenka, meanwhile, now advances to her third consecutive US Open final, determined to finally turn lessons into triumph and cement her reign as champion.
