US Open women’s final 2024: Aryna Sabalenka holds off Jessica Pegula to win third Grand Slam title – BBC
Aryna Sabalenka claimed her first-ever US Open title on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in a thrilling final against Jessica Pegula. The match was played under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Sabalenka winning 7-5, 7-5. This victory marks Sabalenka’s third Grand Slam title, adding to her previous Australian Open wins in 2023 and 2024.
Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, entered the match with high expectations after a series of tough losses in past US Opens. Just a year ago, she finished as the runner-up, and in the two years before that, she was knocked out in the semifinals. Her emotions were high this time, but instead of tears of frustration, she left the court with laughter and joy.
“Oh my God, I’m speechless,” Sabalenka said after the match. “It’s been a dream of mine to win the US Open. So many times, I thought I was so close. Finally, I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot.”
Her opponent, Jessica Pegula, a native of New York and the No. 6 seed, fought hard but fell short in her first Grand Slam final at the age of 30. Pegula had been in stellar form leading up to the match, winning 15 of her last 17 matches over the previous month. Unfortunately for her, both losses came at the hands of Sabalenka, including Saturday’s final.
The match was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Sabalenka quickly gained control after Pegula led early in both sets. In the second set, Pegula held a 5-3 lead and had a chance to take the match into a deciding third set. However, Sabalenka fought back and broke Pegula’s serve to tie the score at 5-5. From there, Sabalenka dominated, winning the final two games to seal her victory.
Sabalenka’s powerful play was evident throughout the match. She hit more winners than Pegula, 40 to 17, and managed to win most of the long rallies, securing 12 out of 15 points in exchanges lasting nine or more shots. While Pegula showed resilience, she couldn’t overcome Sabalenka’s aggressive strokes and pinpoint accuracy.
Sabalenka’s victory in New York makes her the sixth woman in history to win the US Open after finishing as a runner-up the previous year, a feat last accomplished by Serena Williams in 2012. In fact, Sabalenka’s path to victory mirrored some of the struggles of past champions. Like Williams, who overcame several near misses before clinching multiple titles, Sabalenka has shown determination and growth throughout her career.
As the 2024 US Open champion, Sabalenka also made history by becoming one of only five women to win both the Australian Open and US Open in the same year since 1988, when the Australian Open switched to hard courts. Her dominance on this surface was clear, as she has now won 43 matches on hard courts in Grand Slam tournaments since 2021, the most by any player, male or female.
In her on-court speech, Sabalenka showed respect and admiration for Pegula. “I know how tough it is to lose in the final,” she said, offering words of encouragement. “You’re showing some amazing tennis, and I’m sure you’ll get one [a Grand Slam title]. Maybe more. But let’s start from one.”
Despite the loss, Pegula’s performance has been impressive. Her rise in the rankings continues, and she will move up to No. 3 in the world when the new WTA rankings are released. Pegula’s ability to fight back after Sabalenka’s early surge in both sets demonstrated her resilience and competitive spirit.
Looking back at the match, Pegula admitted that Sabalenka’s power was hard to handle. “She’s super powerful, goes for her shots, and she’s definitely not going to give you anything,” Pegula said. “I was happy I was able to fight back and give myself a chance, but in the end, it wasn’t enough.”
With this win, Sabalenka secures a $3.6 million prize and caps off a remarkable year in Grand Slam tournaments. She won 37 of the 40 sets she played in major tournaments this season, a win rate of 92.5%, the highest since Justine Henin in 2007.
As Sabalenka celebrated her victory, she reflected on the challenges she had faced in past tournaments, including her emotional defeat to Coco Gauff in last year’s final. This time, however, she embraced the energy of the crowd and let it fuel her performance.
Sabalenka’s triumph at the 2024 US Open not only solidifies her place among the world’s top tennis players but also marks the beginning of what could be an even more successful chapter in her career.
#USOpen2024 #SabalenkaChampion #TennisFinal #GrandSlamWin #PegulaVsSabalenka