Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka racked up 40 winners while defeating sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win her first U.S. Open title on Saturday afternoon at New York.
It is the third career Grand Slam crown for Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open each of the past two years. The 26-year-old is the first women’s player since Germany’s Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win on the hard courts of the Aussie and U.S. Opens in the same year.
Sabalenka received a check for $3.6 million in winnings.
“To get a U.S. Open has been a dream of mine,” Sabalenka said during the on-court trophy ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium after the match. “… It means a lot. I’m literally speechless right now.”
Sabalenka of Belarus lost in the 2023 U.S. Open final to Coco Gauff.
This time around, Sabalenka was too strong for Pegula, who had just 17 winners and 22 unforced errors. Sabalenka committed 34 unforced errors.
Sabalenka lost just one set — to No. 29 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in the third round — while rolling to the title.
“I’m just super proud of myself,” Sabalenka said. “I never say that but I’m super proud.”
Pegula, 30, was in a Grand Slam final for the first time and the pro-New York crowd was behind the Buffalo native from the outset.
But Sabalenka was the stronger player in the first set until Pegula made it tight by winning three straight games to tie it at 5-5. Sabalenka won the final two games to take the set.
In the second set, Pegula had a 5-3 lead but was unable to even the match. Sabalenka won the last four games to win the match.
“I wish she would have at least given me one set,” Pegula said during the ceremony. “She’s super powerful. She’s definitely not going to give you anything and she can knock the racket out of your hands.”
Pegula is 15-2 over her last 17 matches. Both losses are to Sabalenka.
Sabalenka controlled the action near the net while winning 18 of 23 points (78.3 percent). She also had a 6-4 edge in aces.
“She’s super powerful. Goes for her shots. She’s definitely not going to give you anything,” Pegula said. “I was happy I was able to fight back and give myself a chance, but in the end it wasn’t enough.”
Sabalenka also defeated Pegula in the finals of the Cincinnati Open last month. She has won her last 12 matches.
Pegula will move up to a career-high-tying No. 3 in the rankings on Monday. Sabalenka will remain No. 2 behind Iga Swiatek of Poland.
–Field Level Media
