Aryna Sabalenka has stormed to her first-ever US Open title and third Grand Slam title overall after her win against Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka overcame Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the 2024 US Open final, having lost last year’s final to Coco Gauff.
The Belarusian adds the trophy to her two Australian Open titles, with Carlos Alcaraz congratulating Sabalenka on her US Open win.
Sabalenka labelled Pegula ‘incredible’ before their match, with the American undoubtedly playing some of the best tennis of her career in Queens.
But the sixth seed didn’t have enough in the tank to make it past the second seed, who was determined to succeed after last year’s heartbreak.
Aryna Sabalenka equals Serena Williams record after her US Open win
It caps off a roller-coaster year for the world number two, who won the Australian Open, suffered a French Open quarter-final exit and missed Wimbledon due to injury.
But she now boasts a superb record following the US Open win, with Sabalenka becoming the first player to finish the season with the most women’s singles Grand Slam wins for consecutive years since Serena Williams in 2015-2016.
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That is according to OptaAce, with her 18 wins in 2024 level with Jasmine Paolini, who lost the French Open and Wimbledon finals.
Aryna Sabalenka wins deserved maiden US Open title
Sabalenka was in fine form from the very first round in New York, with her 6-3, 6-3 round one win over Priscilla Hon setting the tone for her tournament.
The Belarusian dropped just one set throughout the entire competition, despite coming up against the likes of Qinwen Zheng and Emma Navarro.
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Sabalenka also needed to battle the US Open crowd against the latter, and indeed against her compatriot Pegula in the final.
That was also the case this time last year, with young star Gauf breaking Sabalenka’s heart at Flushing Meadows.
But it certainly didn’t break her spirit, with the 26-year-old now boasting a 3-1 record in Grand Slam finals.
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