Playing in her fourth consecutive Grand Slam final on hard courts, second seed Aryna Sabalenka fought past first-time major finalist Jessica Pegula 7-5 7-5 to claim the 2024 US Open title, a year after finishing as the runner-up to Coco Gauff at Flushing Meadows.
The sixth-seeded Pegula initially took a 2-1 lead with a break of serve, but Sabalenka swiftly neutralized that advantage, winning four games in a row to secure a 5-2 lead. Just when it seemed Sabalenka’s powerful serves and deep forehands were steering her toward a first-set victory, Pegula rallied with the crowd’s support, winning three consecutive games to level the score at 5-5. Sabalenka triumphed in a marathon 11th game, and despite Pegula saving four set points and having multiple chances to force a tiebreak, the Belarusian ultimately secured the opening set.
After expending so much energy in the first set and missing several opportunities, Pegula started the second set with reduced momentum as Sabalenka swiftly built a 3-0 lead and even had a break point for a 4-0 advantage. However, Pegula’s fighting spirit resurfaced, and she injected drama into the match by winning a stunning series of five games to lead 5-3. Sabalenka struggled, but she managed to halt the losing streak by holding serve in the ninth game.
As Pegula served for the second set, the drama continued to intensify. Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve to level the set at 5-5, making the final’s outcome unpredictable. Sabalenka then held her serve, placing the pressure back on Pegula, who was now serving to stay in the match. Facing two championship points under immense pressure, Pegula could not fend off Sabalenka’s relentless play. The 26-year-old Belarusian converted the second championship point with a powerful forehand, forcing Pegula to send her return long and clinching the title.
Sabalenka’s winning gear at the 2024 US Open featured the Nike New York Slam Dress, Nike Zoom NXT tennis shoes, and the Wilson Blade 98 18×20 v9 tennis racquet.
On her way to securing her third major title and her first in New York, Sabalenka defeated Priscilla Hon in the first round, Lucia Bronzetti in the second, Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third, Elise Mertens in the fourth, Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, Emma Navarro in the semifinals, and ultimately Pegula in the final.
