Defending Champion Sabalenka Reaches US Open Final After Pegula Victory

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the US Open final by overcoming a challenging three-set match against American fourth seed Jessica Pegula, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and top seed, rallied after dropping the first set, demonstrating resilience and powerful play with 42 winners and 11 aces to withstand Pegula's pressure. This victory marks Sabalenka's third consecutive US Open final appearance, putting her on course to become the first woman to defend the title since Serena Williams' hat-trick from 2012 to 2014. Sabalenka will face either Japan's Naomi Osaka or American Amanda Anisimova in the final, with whom she already has notable recent tournament encounters. Despite Pegula's aggressive returns and strong play, especially in the first and third sets, Sabalenka's improved serve and clutch performance under pressure secured her the win. The match highlighted Sabalenka's continued dominance in Grand Slams, as she seeks to add another US Open trophy to her growing list of achievements.