Aryna Sabalenka shined as she secured the women’s title at the 2024 US Open, defeating American Jessica Pegula with a score of 7-5, 7-5 on Saturday.
Sabalenka surged to a 3-0 lead in the second set, but Pegula mounted a strong comeback, winning five consecutive games and putting the match at risk of a third set. However, Sabalenka responded brilliantly, claiming four straight games to capture her first US Open singles title.
With this victory, Sabalenka solidifies her status as a hard-court champion. Her previous two major titles came at the Australian Open, one in January of this year and another in 2023. Notably, 11 of her 13 titles have been earned on hard courts. As the No. 2 seed, she is currently on a 12-match winning streak on hard surfaces, having recently triumphed at the Cincinnati Open, where she also defeated Pegula in the final.
Entering Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sabalenka may have felt a sense of déjà vu. The 26-year-old had faced disappointment on this stage before, having lost in the US Open semifinals in 2021 and 2022. Last year, she reached her first final, only to lose to Coco Gauff, another American who was ranked below her at the time.
On the other hand, the No. 6 seed Pegula, aged 30, has also faced her share of challenges in Grand Slam tournaments. Before this event, she reached the quarterfinals six times without advancing further. However, this year, she defeated No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek to earn her first quarterfinal win at a Grand Slam. Pegula’s summer record now stands at 15-1, with her only loss coming from Sabalenka in Cincinnati. Earlier, she had successfully defended her title at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto.
Pegula’s impressive run follows a tough spring, during which she was sidelined due to neck and rib injuries. “If you had told me at the beginning of the year that I’d be in the final of the US Open, I would have laughed so hard,” Pegula remarked after reaching the finals.
The match commenced under a closed roof due to rain, with both players holding their serves initially, each recording an ace. Sabalenka showed signs of nerves first, slipping to 15-40 while serving at 1-1. Pegula capitalized on this with a powerful return, breaking Sabalenka’s serve. However, she too faltered, dropping her own serve and leveling the score to 2-2.
As the players settled into the match, the familiarity between them was evident. Sabalenka, who was ranked No. 1 after last year’s US Open, had a 5-2 advantage over Pegula in their previous encounters. Pegula’s highest ranking was world No. 3 last fall.
Sabalenka’s impressive track record and powerful play were on full display early in the final. She showcased her ability to approach the net and use drop shots, keeping Pegula off balance.
At the 30-minute mark, Pegula was serving at 2-5 and managed to hold her serve, benefiting from her four aces compared to Sabalenka’s three. The American seemed relieved to win that game.
As Sabalenka served at 5-3, the pressure mounted. Pegula earned a break point opportunity but failed to convert it, only to get another chance. Frustrated, Sabalenka sent a forehand sailing out.
The first set was back on track as Pegula served at 4-5, quickly holding her serve. In the following game, Sabalenka had two chances to close out the set but committed double faults. Eventually, a powerful serve led to a Pegula error, and she faced the challenge of serving to stay in the set at 5-6. Sabalenka continued to apply pressure, earning two set points. She missed her chances but remained determined.
Pegula remained composed until a double fault handed Sabalenka her fifth set point. Sabalenka capitalized on the opportunity, taking the set 7-5.
Could Pegula turn the match around? Early in the second set, her error count was climbing, with 15 mistakes compared to just 10 winners. Meanwhile, Sabalenka was in control, boasting 30 winners against 25 errors and racing to a 3-0 lead.
However, Pegula had shown her resilience in the semifinals, rallying from a 1-6, 0-2 deficit against Muchova. A similar comeback seemed possible when she earned two break points at 1-3. Converting on the second opportunity, she brought the set back on serve.
Pegula’s determination shone through as she won four consecutive games, taking a 4-3 lead—the first time she was ahead in the match. This streak extended to five games, putting Sabalenka in a position where she had to serve to stay in the set at 3-5.
Post-match, Sabalenka revealed that she was bracing for the possibility of a third set at that pivotal moment. “I was getting ready for the third set,” she admitted.
Instead, Sabalenka held her serve and then broke Pegula to level the set at 5-5. Moments later, with a 6-5 lead, Sabalenka unleashed four powerful forehands, putting pressure on Pegula’s serve. She converted her second match point to take the set 7-5 and secure the championship.
