In the US Open women’s final for the second year in a row, Aryna Sabalenka won her first title after beating Jessica Pegula in three sets on Saturday, 7-5, 7-5.
Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, didn’t dominate No. 6 seed Pegula with her serve and groundstrokes like she did in her semifinal win over Emma Navarro on Thursday. But her poise and powerful strokes neutralized a strong defensive effort from Pegula, who frustrated Sabalenka with her returns.
After winning a tough first set in which she showed some frustration at her inability to take down Pegula, Sabalenka looked set to advance to the second set, taking a 3-0 lead.
Pegula seemed unable to respond to Sabalenka’s powerful serves and forehands at times. Yet her defensive efforts kept her in the match, even if it didn’t show on the scoreboard.
But Pegula then fought back. After holding serve to make it 3-1, she broke Sabalenka’s serve to pull within 3-2. Suddenly, she was back in the set with the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, made louder by a closed roof, firmly on her side.
Although Pegula looked unsettled at times, complaining that her racquets “felt dead” — perhaps due to the conditions caused by the closed roof — and her inability to take advantage against Sabalenka’s power, she held her serve to level the set at 3-3. She then broke Sabalenka’s serve to take a 4-3 lead and it looked as if the match might improbably head to a third set.
Pegula won five games in a row and appeared to have taken control of the match. Sabalenka then made the play of the match with a no-look backhand crosscourt hit with her back to the net, just out of Pegula’s reach to win the point.
Sabalenka then broke Pegula’s serve to level the score at 5-5. This apparently allowed her to regain her confidence and assert herself again with power on her serve and forehand to maintain a 6-5 lead.
Eventually, Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve with two scorching forehands that the American struggled to reach. Pegula’s second return went long, giving Sabalenka a match point, a 7-5 victory and her first US Open title.
“I wish she would have given me at least one set,” Pegula joked after the match. “We had a tough match in Cincinnati a few weeks ago (Sabalenka won 6-3, 7-5) and she’s one of the best in the world. She’s super powerful and won’t give you anything, she can take the racket out of your hands.”
With this victory, the Belarusian wins her third Grand Slam title, in addition to the two Australian Open titles she has won. She is the first woman to win both the Australian Open and the US Open in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016.
Sabalenka is also the fifth player to win two hard court titles in the same season, joining Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis and Kerber, according to the BBCWith the hard court being so well suited to her game, Sabalenka could add many trophies to her showcase in the future.
Here’s how Saturday’s action in the 2024 US Open women’s singles final unfolded on Yahoo Sports’ live match blog:
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What a difference a year makes
ESPN aired footage of Aryna Sabalenka’s reaction to her loss to Coco Gauff in the US Open final last year. She clearly had a lot of upset about it, and a racket was the object of all her frustration.
Compare that to Saturday’s very different display of emotion.
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Sabalenka wins first US Open title and third Grand Slam title
“I am speechless. I have been so close to victory many times, and I always dreamed of winning,” Aryna Sabalenka said in her post-match interview. “In the second set, I was praying. I remember those tough losses, you should never give up on your dream. I am super proud of myself.”
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Sabalenka wins second set, 7-5
Sabalenka breaks Pegula’s serve with two fiery forehands that the American struggles to take back. The second return is long and Sabalenka wins 7-5.
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Sabalenka leads 6-5
Once again, Sabalenka’s power on her serve and front put Pegula on the defensive. It was perhaps the deciding game of this second set. But Pegula is now on her serve.
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Sabalenka breaks her serve
Sabalenka looked frustrated as the second set slipped away from her. But two consecutive break points levelled the score at 5-5. Sabalenka is now serving and it remains to be seen whether she can withstand Pegula’s efforts.
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Unusual but effective shot for Sabalenka
With her back to the net, Sabalenka sends a backhand cross-court shot that goes just out of Pegula’s reach. She didn’t even see where her shot was going. A magnificently athletic play that allows her to hold on.
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Pegula wins 5 consecutive matches
On her second serve, Pegula double-faulted by sending a ball into the net and crouched down, apparently believing she had missed a ball.
But Sabalenka no longer hits the ball with as much precision and the errors multiply. Pegula then takes the advantage 5-3.
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Pegula leads 4-3
After Sabalenka took a 3-0 lead and moved into a 4-0 lead, Pegula broke Sabalenka’s serve and stormed back to lead 4-3. She will now serve.
This match could go to the third set, which is a surprising turnaround.
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Pegula holds her serve and equalizes at 3-3
Sabalenka hits her backhand return too far and Pegula holds serve to level the set at 3-3.
Will Sabalenka be able to regain her serving momentum? Pegula is back in this match.
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Pegula was caught on microphone complaining about her troubles
ESPN microphones recorded Pegula between matches telling coaches that her rackets “felt dead.” Perhaps the conditions with the roof closed are affecting Pegula’s feel and how well she’s able to play the ball on the hard surface.
However, she has a chance to equalize in this set while she is serving.
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Pegula fights back
After finally getting a game by holding serve, Jessica Pegula broke Aryna Sabalenka and now closed the set at 3-2 when it looked like Sabalenka might pull through.
Pegula is now in service.
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Pegula is starting to wear out
Pegula is starting to get into trouble. Sabalenka gains momentum and leads 3-0. Pegula must hold her serve to stay in the match.
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Sabalekna holds firm and takes the lead 2-0
Pegula’s demeanor is starting to look like someone who is staying in this match, but can’t overcome Sabalenka’s serve despite her best defensive efforts.
She leads 2-0 and seems to be gaining confidence in this second set.
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Sabalenka wins the first set, 7-5
Sabalenka breaks Pegula’s serve to win the first set, 7-5.
Pegula fought back hard to get back to 5-5, but Sabalenka managed to prevail thanks to her excellent hitting. Pegula showed some frustration by throwing her racket, knowing she was playing well but not getting the results she wanted.
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Pegula let one escape
Pegula had a chance to hold her serve and Sabalenka leaned in the wrong direction to return the serve. But she sent the ball into the net and knew she had missed a point she should have won.
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Sabalenka leads 6-5
Pegula managed to come back to 5-5, encouraged by the support of the crowd. Sabalenka also has her fans and she called out to the supporters at one point.
And Sabalenka holds with a nice backhand to win the point and go up to 6-5.
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Sabalenka shows some frustration
After hitting a return into the net, Sabalenka hits the court with her racket several times. The crowd responds to her frustration. But she is still on her serve at 5-5.
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Pegula breaks Sabalenka’s serve
Big breakthrough from Pegula, slowing down Sabalenka’s progress.
She comes back to 5-4 and takes the upper hand on her serve.
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Sabalenka leads 5-3
Pegula isn’t overwhelmed by Sabalenka’s power like Emma Navarro was in the women’s semifinals. But Sabalenka forces her to play defense often against powerful serve and returns.
Once again, the crowd shows great support for Pegula.
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The crowd tries to help Pegula
As expected, the crowd is on Pegula’s side, cheering on the American. That may give her a boost, but Sabalenka holds her serve and takes a 5-2 lead in the first set.
