Aryna Sabalenka Defends US Open Title Reaching Third Consecutive Final

Jessica Pegula reached the semifinals of the 2025 US Open, where she lost a closely contested three-set match to world number one Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning champion seeking to defend her title. Sabalenka overcame Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a rematch of last year's final and will face either Naomi Osaka or Amanda Anisimova in the final, aiming to become the first player since Serena Williams to win consecutive US Open singles titles. Despite the defeat and slipping to seventh in the WTA rankings, Pegula expressed confidence in her game, stating she always feels close to winning a Grand Slam and believes she is among the top players in the world. Pegula acknowledged the high level of competition and her opponent's exceptional shots on break points, but took a light-hearted approach to her loss on social media. Her season has seen ups and downs, including unexpected losses earlier in the year, but the strong performance at the US Open suggests her efforts to rebuild and improve are paying off. Pegula remains optimistic about her chances of eventually winning a major title before the end of her career.