Aryna Sabalenka clinched her third Grand Slam title by defeating Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a thrilling final at the US Open. Held under a closed retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sabalenka showcased her powerful game, mixing in variety to outplay Pegula, who was contesting her first Grand Slam final at the age of 30. This victory comes a year after Sabalenka’s tearful exit as the runner-up and follows her semifinal losses in the previous two editions. The 26-year-old Belarusian drew from past heartbreaks and personal challenges, including the loss of her father and an ex-boyfriend, to deliver a determined performance.
Sabalenka’s path to the title was marked by resilience. After dropping five games in a row to allow Pegula to lead 5-3 in the second set, she regrouped and won four consecutive games to seal the match. Despite facing break points and moments of frustration—such as smashing her racket after a double fault—Sabalenka maintained composure under pressure. Her booming groundstrokes and tactical variety proved decisive, with statistics showing she hit 40 winners compared to Pegula’s 17, even though she also tallied more unforced errors (34 to 22).
Pegula, a New York native and daughter of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres owners, showed grit by battling back from a 0-3 deficit in the second set and pushing Sabalenka to the brink of a third set. However, she couldn’t convert key opportunities, notably when serving for the set at 5-4. Reflecting on her performance, Pegula noted, “She played some big tennis in big moments.” Her powerful return game and ability to break Sabalenka’s serve kept her in contention throughout the match.
With this win, Sabalenka extends her winning streak to 12 matches and becomes the new World No. 1. As she celebrated her $3.6 million prize, she emphasized the importance of perseverance, saying, “In those tough moments, I was just trying to stay strong and remind myself that I’ve been through a lot.” The victory at Flushing Meadows marks a significant milestone in Sabalenka’s career and positions her as a dominant force in women’s tennis.
