NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the U.S. Open women’s final on Saturday, winning her first championship at Flushing Meadows and her third Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, adds this victory to her two Australian Open titles from the past two years, also on hard courts. This time, she left Arthur Ashe Stadium in a much better mood than when she was runner-up to Coco Gauff at the 2023 U.S. Open.
Pegula, a New Yorker whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, was competing in her first major final. She had won 15 of her last 17 matches over the past month, but both losses came against Sabalenka in finals.
Sabalenka, seeded No. 2, appeared to be in full control after winning five consecutive games to take the first set and move ahead 3-0 in the second. However, Pegula made things interesting by launching her own five-game run. At 5-4, Pegula served with a chance to force a third set but lost the advantage, allowing Sabalenka to break and level the set.
Sabalenka finished the match with a three-game surge, collapsing to the court in celebration after the final point. Her powerful strokes, particularly her forehands, proved decisive, outpacing those of any other player in the tournament.
Sabalenka had more winners than Pegula (40-17) but also more unforced errors (34-22). In key moments, she maintained control, despite showing visible frustration during the match, such as when she slammed her racket to the court after a double fault in the first set.
Ultimately, Sabalenka held her nerve, winning the first set and closing out the match to secure the title. A year after losing a lead to Gauff, she made sure not to let history repeat itself.
