Sabalenka’s Dominant Performance
Aryna Sabalenka has secured her place in the final of the US Open for the fourth consecutive year, following a dominant performance against Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka, who is aiming for her third successive US Open title, defeated Pegula with a 7-5, 6-2 victory in New York. This win marks her 20th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows.
Despite facing some early frustration and unforced errors, Sabalenka elevated her game when it mattered most. Her ability to maintain composure, even during challenging moments, was evident throughout the match. She will relinquish her world number one ranking on Monday, but her triumph over Pegula keeps her hopes of ending the year with a Grand Slam title alive.
Sabalenka expressed her determination after the match, stating she was “so desperate to win” and “wanted it badly.” She added, “No complaints, I am super happy to pull out such good tennis.” This sentiment was echoed in her post-match comments, where she highlighted her satisfaction with her performance, especially given the difficulty of their previous encounter.
The Belarusian’s victory was achieved in just 80 minutes, showcasing her powerful play. She finished the match with seven aces and 29 winners, compared to 20 unforced errors. Her aggressive approach to returns, particularly on Pegula’s second serves, proved to be a key factor in her success.
Match Dynamics and Key Moments
In the first set, Sabalenka initially struggled with unforced errors while Pegula settled quickly, striking the ball cleanly. Pegula’s serving was particularly strong, landing 20 of her 26 first serves and winning 18 of her 20 service points at one stage. However, Sabalenka managed to break Pegula in the final game of the first set, taking it 7-5. This break came after Pegula went down 0-40, and despite saving one set point, Sabalenka capitalized on a strong return and won a six-point rally.
Sabalenka’s aggression increased in the latter part of the first set, winning eight of the final nine points. She looked frustrated at times but managed to turn the tide. In the second set, Sabalenka’s power intensified. She secured the first break of the second set with a 90mph forehand on Pegula’s second serve, following a monster forehand on a deuce point.
Pegula, who is 32 years old and the only semi-finalist without a Grand Slam title, had limited opportunities to break Sabalenka’s serve after her initial chance in the ninth game of the first set. Sabalenka’s consistent baseline defense and powerful winners kept her firmly in control, preventing Pegula from gaining momentum.
Sabalenka’s performance in this match further solidifies her impressive record on hard courts. She has now reached every major final on her preferred surface since the 2023 Australian Open, breaking the Open era record for the most Grand Slam hard-court finals in a row. This sustained success follows a period earlier in the season where she won the ‘Sunshine Double’ at Indian Wells and Miami in March, despite a quarter-final defeat at Roland Garros and a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Sabalenka’s path to the final has seen her drop just one set throughout the tournament, demonstrating her renewed form. She will now face either Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina or American fourth seed Coco Gauff in Saturday’s showpiece event. Rybakina is set to replace Sabalenka at the top of the world rankings.
In the other semi-final, Gauff had a strong start against Rybakina. Gauff secured the first break at 4-2 in the first set, winning a 16-shot rally and capitalizing on Rybakina’s second serve. Gauff’s clean play, with only four unforced errors early in the match, and her ability to handle Rybakina’s powerful serve, were notable. She also recorded four aces in the early stages of her match.
Sabalenka aims to become the first player since Serena Williams to win three successive US Open women’s singles titles, a feat only achieved by Williams and Chris Evert in the Open era. Sabalenka has not experienced defeat in New York since losing the 2023 final to Gauff.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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