Jessica Pegula, an American favorite, and Aryna Sabalenka, the world number two, are set to clash in a thrilling US Open final. Pegula, who hails from Buffalo, New York, pulled off an incredible comeback from a set, break and break point down against Karolina Muchova to secure her spot in her first Grand Slam singles final. Meanwhile, Sabalenka powered her way to a second consecutive US Open final, overcoming Emma Navarro in straight sets.
After struggling through the opening set, the sixth-seeded Pegula defeated Karolina Muchova 1-6 6-4 6-2 in the semis. This victory is even more impressive considering Pegula’s previous difficulties at the quarterfinal stage of major tournaments, having lost six in a row before breaking through against world number one Iga Swiatek earlier at the 2024 US Open.
The second-seeded Sabalenka overcame American Emma Navarro 6-3 7-6(2) in a hard-fought match, displaying her typical aggressive style of play. Sabalenka, who also made it to the US Open final last year, will be looking to claim her first title in New York after finishing as the runner-up to Coco Gauff in 2023.
Sabalenka’s journey to the final hasn’t been without challenges. She had to navigate a partisan crowd cheering for Navarro but managed to keep her composure. Reflecting on her experience from last year’s final, Sabalenka said she focused on her own game and the support of her team, determined not to let emotions derail her.
Navarro, who made an impressive run to her first Grand Slam semifinals, pushed Sabalenka to the limit in the second set. Despite leading 2-0 in the tiebreak, she couldn’t close it out. Navarro, a rising star at just 23 years old, will still have plenty to celebrate as she cracks the WTA’s Top 10 for the first time, marking her rapid rise in the tennis world.
For Sabalenka, this final will be her fourth hard-court Grand Slam final in a row, highlighting her consistency and dominance on this surface. Her powerful, high-risk game has been a key to her success, and with 34 winners against Navarro, she proved once again that she’s one of the top players in the sport. On the other hand, Pegula will rely on her home crowd’s support to make history as she vies for her first Grand Slam title in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
As Sabalenka and Pegula prepare for what promises to be an electric final, fans are eager to see whether Pegula can ride the wave of momentum or if Sabalenka’s experience and firepower will finally earn her the US Open crown.
Sabalenka holds a 5-2 lead over Pegula in their head-to-head encounters, including a victory in their most recent clash in the Cincinnati hardcourt final.
