Aryna Sabalenka survives Jessica Pegula comeback to clinch maiden US Open triumph in straight sets

Updated 07/09/2024 at 22:56 GMT

Aryna Sabalenka survived a comeback from Jessica Pegula to win her first US Open in two sets, 7-5 7-5. The American Pegula, in her first majors final, was given a huge ovation from the New York crowd and helped put on a show with the Belarusian. Ultimately she could not live with the aggressiveness of Sabalenka's serves and forehands and the eventual winner stopped her comeback in its tracks.

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Aryna Sabalenka won her first US Open title after beating Jessica Pegula 7-5 7-5 on Saturday at Flushing Meadows, picking up the third major of her career.

Sabalenka weathered a storm from Pegula to win the second set, her shots more vicious as the match wore on, and she conquered the chaos that Pegula injected into the match.

Pegula arrived to a huge ovation from the New York crowd as she faced down the biggest match of her career so far - her first Grand Slam final on home soil, against probably the most powerful hitter in the women's game today.

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The American fired everything at the eventual winner, having won an incredible five straight games in the second set before the Belarusian roared back.

It's Sabalenka's second major of the season after clinching the Australian Open for the second time earlier this year.

The opening four games saw the two break each other before Sabalenka grew into the match, hammering Pegula with her save and making her pay for every mistake she made. The American came back in a rollercoaster set but the world No. 2 finally breached her defences.

After settling into her groove midway through the first set, surviving two breaks from Pegula, Sabalenka set out to make quick work of the American in the second set and raced out to three games to nil.

A single point away from a 4-0 lead and a single hand on the trophy, but Pegula, eerily invoking her semi-final against Karolina Muchova, hit back with five straight games.

The 30-year-old's ability to grind and hustle meant she had managed to survive without being crushed, and she began returning Sabalenka's shots effectively, to the extent that the Belarusian was visibly rattled.

As Pegula won five straight games and threatened to take away the trophy that eluded her last year, a scorching Sabalenka forehand sealed a break to stop the flow of Pegula games, channelling her anger into that shot. She cried out with joy and relief and from there could compose herself and focus on the task at hand.

A backhand error from Pegula allowed her to take the 10th game of the set and she did not lose a beat from there.

At the championship point, Sabalenka ripped a forehand and Pegula's return went long. Sabalenka slumped to the ground in pure elation and savoured every second of the crowd's cheers.

“Finally I got this beautiful trophy, it means a lot, it’s been a very very couple of weeks," she said with a beaming smile.

"It means a lot. I'm literally speechless right now," she added.

“I remembered all the tough losses in the past here. Never give up on your dream and just keep trying.

“If you keep working hard and sacrificing everything for a dream, you’re going to get there one day. I’m super proud of myself, I never say that but I'm super proud of myself. I'm proud of my team."

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