World number one Aryna Sabalenka kept her U.S. Open title defence alive on Thursday, battling back to defeat American Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-3 6-4 in a tense semi-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Belarusian, who lost to Pegula in the first set, recovered her composure in front of a partisan New York crowd to overpower the fourth seed with 43 winners and eight aces. The victory gives Sabalenka a chance to win her second consecutive crown at Flushing Meadows.
“I really played great tennis. I think I handled that pressure really well,” said Sabalenka. “The whole match I just keep telling myself, into the next one, just one step at a time, don’t worry about the past. Just try better in the next point.”
Pegula, who produced some of her best tennis of the tournament, struck just three unforced errors in the opener and secured the upper hand after trading early breaks, capitalising on a Sabalenka misfire at 5-4.
But Sabalenka left the court before the second set and returned with renewed intensity. She broke Pegula in the second game and raced to a 3-0 lead before levelling the match.
In the deciding set, Sabalenka struck first with an early break and showed her resilience by fending off three break points in a lengthy sixth game. Pegula saved two match points late but could not deny Sabalenka, who sealed victory with a forehand winner before celebrating with a roar.
The result extends Sabalenka’s dominance over Pegula to 8-2 in their career meetings, having also beaten the American in the Miami and Cincinnati finals earlier this year.
“Strategically I played her much better than I have the last few times,” said Pegula. “Obviously executing it is a different story. It was too good from her today at some points.”
Sabalenka, who has reached finals at both the Australian Open and French Open this season and made the semi-finals at Wimbledon, is chasing her first major title of 2025.
“If I’ll be able to hold that trophy, it’s going to mean a lot for me. I’ll be just the happiest person on earth probably,” she told reporters.
The 26-year-old will face either four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka or American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in Saturday’s final, where she will attempt to become the first woman since Serena Williams (2013–14) to successfully defend a U.S. Open title.
