Sabalenka defeats Pegula to reach U.S. Open women's final
World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinals and will face either Coco Gauff or Elena Rybakina in the championship match.
Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the U.S. Open women's final after a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Jessica Pegula in the semifinal on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The win puts her one match away from a possible third straight title in New York, with a final showdown against either Coco Gauff or Elena Rybakina awaiting her.
Sabalenka, who has struggled with consistency earlier in the season, said she feels "confident and mentally and physically strong" following the match. She also praised the atmosphere in New York, noting that the city's energy motivates her.
Pegula, the world No. 3, acknowledged the difficulty of breaking Sabalenka's rhythm, commenting that she hoped for a moment when her opponent might be "off a little bit" to create an opening.
Statistically, Sabalenka's first-serve percentage was 55 percent, but she compensated with a strong second serve, winning roughly two-thirds of those points. The match featured eleven consecutive holds of serve in the first set before Sabalenka secured the decisive break at 5-6.
The semifinal win marks Sabalenka's fourth consecutive appearance in a U.S. Open final, having previously captured the title in 2024 and 2025. She will now aim to add a third consecutive championship to her record.