LBelarusian Aryna Sabalenka took revenge for her defeat in the 2023 final and won her first US Open title on Saturday, by defeating American Jessica Pegula.
According to the criteria of
Sabalenka won 7-5, 7-5 in front of more than 23,000 New York fans who cheered Pegula on, who was making her debut in a Grand Slam final at the age of 30.
It was not an easy victory for Sabalenka, who broke down in tears on the court to celebrate her third Grand Slam title, after winning the two most recent editions of the Australian Open (2023 and 2024).
Sabalenka, world number two, had been fighting for the US Open for several years. Since 2021, she has reached at least the semi-finals for four consecutive editions and last year she was just one set away from the title.
In that final, Sabalenka was brought down by the pressure of local gem Coco Gauff and the hostility towards her on Centre Court.
This was Aryna Sabalenka’s revenge to win the US Open
On Saturday, in a less adverse atmosphere, the Belarusian showed that she had learned her lesson and controlled her emotions even after wasting four points to win the first set.
Although her errors, especially double faults, gave her opponent some breathing room, Sabalenka persisted and pocketed the set on the brink of a tiebreak. Pegula quickly found herself 3-0 down in the second set but, just as she had done in the semi-final against Karolina Muchova, she launched a fearless comeback, winning the next five games.
Jessica Pegula
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The daughter of NFL tycoon Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills, served for the second set, but Sabalenka stopped the comeback and wrapped up the win before living her moment of redemption in New York, celebrating with her team in the stands amid the applause of the fans.
SPORTS
With AFP
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