World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is poised to claim her third Grand Slam title after reaching the US Open final on September 5. For the second year in a row, Sabalenka showcased her talent by defeating American Emma Navarro with a score of 6-3, 7-6(2).
A Stellar Performance
Sabalenka’s journey to the final has been marked by impressive displays of skill and power. In her semifinal match against Navarro, she took control of the game from the start, showcasing her formidable baseline play. The towering Belarusian, standing 1.82 meters tall, hit 16 winners in the first set—double the amount Navarro managed. With a first-serve percentage of 72% and an 80% net success rate, Sabalenka efficiently held serve in four of her five service games while breaking Navarro twice.
In the second set, Sabalenka initially led after breaking Navarro’s serve to go up 3-2, and later served for the match at 5-4. However, Navarro mounted a surprising comeback, using her speed and timely passing shots to break back and force a tiebreak. Facing a mental test, Sabalenka double-faulted and dropped two points. However, she quickly regained her composure, unleashing powerful forehands to win four consecutive points and close the tiebreak 7-2.
A Meaningful Victory
With this victory, Sabalenka becomes the first female player since Serena Williams in 2019 to reach back-to-back US Open finals. Over the past two seasons, she has reached the final of all four major hard-court tournaments, winning two Australian Open titles. The last player to win both the Australian Open and US Open in the same year was Angelique Kerber in 2016.
Pegula’s Grand Slam Breakthrough
Sabalenka’s opponent in the final will be Jessica Pegula, who reached her first Grand Slam final at the age of 30. Pegula has enjoyed a remarkable second half of the season, winning 15 of her last 16 matches. Notably, her only loss during this impressive stretch came against Sabalenka in the final of last month’s Cincinnati Open.
Pegula becomes the third American woman to reach the US Open final at age 30 or older, joining legends Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova. She is also the fourth player in history to reach the final of three major tournaments in the North American hard-court swing, including the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, and US Open. The last player to achieve this feat was Serena Williams, 11 years ago.
Pursuing the Next Goal
As Aryna Sabalenka prepares for her second consecutive US Open final, all eyes will be on her performance against Jessica Pegula. With a combination of power, precision, and newfound mental resilience, Sabalenka aims to add another Grand Slam title to her illustrious career, while Pegula seeks to make her mark on the sport with a breakthrough championship. The final promises to be an exciting showdown, showcasing the best of women’s tennis.
