Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula are set for a Cincinnati Open final rematch in the final of the 2024 US Open.
US Open finalists Sabalenka and Pegula only just met last month for silverware, with the former coming out on top.
Pegula says her movement has improved, which has undoubtedly helped her shine in America this summer.
The world number six won the Canadian Open final and reached another in Cincinnati, while she has now done the same at Flushing Meadows.
Worryingly, however, Sabalenka is the only person to beat Pegula during the hard-court summer of tennis in North America.
Aryna Sabalenka praises Jessica Pegula ahead of the US Open final
The Belarusian won their latest clash 6-3, 7-5, and now boasts a 5-2 head-to-head record over the American.
But Sabalenka is taking nothing for granted ahead of their next meeting, saying in her US Open semi-final press conference: “We have had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult, tight matches. She is playing really incredible tennis.
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“We played recently in Cincinnati and it was a really close match, even though I closed the match in two sets it wasn’t that easy. She is playing her best tennis, I would say, and it feels like she is back on track.
“She won the tournament then she made the final and now she is here, she is in incredible shape and it’s going to be another great battle against her and I cannot wait to play against her.”
Can Aryna Sabalenka overcome another American at the US Open?
Pegula has completely turned her season around this summer, with the home favourite really impressing in Queens.
She is now the last remaining American in the women’s singles, with Sabalenka knocking out her compatriot Navarro.
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It was a hard-fought victory for the Belarusian, who would have been feeling the heat from the US Open crowd given her opponent’s nationality.
She must now do it all again against Pegula, who will also be on top of the world after fine wins over Karolina Muchova and world number one Iga Swiatek.
Some motivation can certainly come from what is at stake, with Sabalenka aiming to become the fourth woman in the 21st century to win the Cincinnati Open and US Open titles in the same year.
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