Aryna Sabalenka, who came in as the No. 2 seed, emerged victorious at the U.S. Open, earning her first championship at Flushing Meadows and the third Grand Slam title of her career. After being a runner-up last year and reaching the semifinals in the two preceding years, Sabalenka finally fulfilled her dream on Saturday by defeating No. 6 Jessica Pegula in a close final held under a closed retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a score of 7-5, 7-5.
“So many times, I thought I was so close to getting a U.S. Open title. It’s been a dream of mine. Finally, I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot,” said Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, who is currently enjoying a 12-match winning streak.
This victory comes after facing multiple tough losses in the past, including semifinal defeats in 2021 and 2022 against Leylah Fernandez and Iga Swiatek respectively, and a heartbreaking loss in the previous year’s U.S. Open to Coco Gauff. However, this year’s crowd was more supportive of Sabalenka, applauding her efforts and responding to her requests for extra noise.
After the match, Sabalenka expressed her gratitude to the fans while jokingly hinting that their support might have been influenced by her earlier offer of drinks on her.
Her opponent, Jessica Pegula, made her first major final appearance at the age of 30. Despite a strong start from Sabalenka, Pegula fought back after losing the first set and going down 3-0 in the second set. However, Sabalenka managed to regain control and ultimately secured her victory with a three-game surge. Pegula acknowledged Sabalenka’s impressive performance and expressed confidence in her future success.
Throughout the match, Sabalenka’s powerful strokes and unwavering determination were evident. Despite early setbacks, she remained composed, even as renowned athletes like Stephen Curry, Lewis Hamilton, and Noah Lyles observed from the stands. As the game progressed, Sabalenka’s dominance became apparent, with statistics revealing a significant difference in winners and unforced errors between the two players.
Although there was a brief moment of frustration when she double-faulted, Sabalenka quickly recovered and went on to claim the first set. In the end, she didn’t let history repeat itself, sealing her victory and earning a well-deserved $3.6 million winners’ check.
“In that second set, honestly, I was just praying there. I was literally standing there and praying,” Sabalenka revealed, highlighting the intensity of the match.
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