NEW YORK, – World primary Aryna Sabalenka fought again to maintain her US Open title protection rolling on Thursday by beating American Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-3 6-4 in a pressure-packed semi-final.
The Belarusian recovered from a nervy begin in a rematch of the 2024 finale, drowning out the partisan followers at Arthur Ashe Stadium and overwhelming the fourth seed with 43 winners and eight aces.
Pegula introduced a few of her greatest tennis to Flushing Meadows this yr however after profitable the primary set she struggled to soak up the three-time main winner’s energy.
“I actually performed nice tennis. I believe I dealt with that stress very well,” mentioned Sabalenka.
“The entire match I simply preserve telling myself, into the subsequent one, only one step at a time, don’t be concerned in regards to the previous. Simply attempt higher within the subsequent level.”
Pegula had simply three unforced errors within the first set and bought the higher hand after buying and selling early breaks as Sabalenka despatched a shot previous the baseline on break level within the ninth sport.
Sabalenka left the courtroom earlier than the second set and got here again out of the tunnel with new resolve. She received the primary three video games, breaking the American with a forehand winner within the second, and upped her degree throughout the board.
Sabalenka broke once more within the opening sport of the ultimate set and confirmed her mettle as she fended off three break factors in a marathon sixth.
Pegula had a bit extra battle left in her, nevertheless, as she saved two match factors earlier than Sabalenka closed it out with a forehand winner and shouted on the prime of her lungs in celebration.
The win provides Sabalenka one other likelihood to safe her first main this season, after ending runner-up on the Australian Open and French Open, and dropping within the Wimbledon semi-finals.
“If I will be capable to maintain that trophy, it will imply quite a bit for me. I will be simply the happiest individual on earth in all probability,” she advised reporters.
Pegula additionally misplaced to Sabalenka within the Miami ultimate earlier this yr, we properly as within the 2024 Cincinnati championship match, and now trails the Belarusian 2-8 in profession head-to-head conferences.
“Strategically I performed her significantly better than I’ve performed her the previous few instances. I really feel like going into the subsequent match, I type of know what I have to do. Clearly executing it’s a totally different story,” she advised reporters.
“It was too good from her immediately at some factors.”
Sabalenka subsequent performs both four-times Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka of Japan or American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova, as she bids to develop into the primary lady to win back-to-back US Open titles since Serena Williams in 2013 and 2014.
“I will go on the market on Saturday and I will battle for each level just like the final level of my life,” she mentioned.
—Reuters