(September 7, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won her first US Open titles on Saturday afternoon when she defeated No. 6 Jessica Pegula of the United States 7-5, 7-5.
It was Pegula’s first-ever major final.
It was a very back-and-forth first set. Pegula stuck first by breaking the powerful serve of Sabalenka to go up 2-1. Sabalenka won the next four games to make it 5-2. Pegula bounced back with three straight games of her own to make it 5-5. Sabalenka battled to hold for 6-5. In the twelfth game Pegula fought off four set points but could not defend a fifth, Sabalenka breoke to capture the firsat set 7-5.
The Belarusian went up a quick break and took a 3-0 lead, but Pegula still kept fighting, getting ablls back, extending rallies, earning two breaks and winning five straight games for a 5-3 lead. Sabalenka held for 4-5. Pegula failed to serve out the set and the set was even at 5-5. Sabalenka picked up her power game and held to take a 6-5 lead. Sabalenka broke serve to end the match. 7-5, 7-5.
This was the fourth time during the Open Era that the second seed and sixth seed faced each other in a Women’s Singles Grand Slam final all of which were at the US Open (Margaret Court vs Nancy Richey 1969, Monica Seles vs Martina Navratilova 1991, Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff 2023).
With winning the Australian Open in January, Sabalenka has become the 5th player during Open Era to win both Women’s Singles hardcourt Grand Slams titles during the same season after Monica Seles (1991,92), Steffi Graf (1988,89), Angelique Kerber (2016) and Martina Hingis (1997). Sabalenka is the second oldest player during the Open Era to win both hard-court Women’s Singles majors during the same season after Angelique Kerber.
More to follow…
