Aryna Sabalenka took a commanding step toward a historic third consecutive U.S. Open title on Thursday, overcoming world number three Jessica Pegula in a straight sets victory. The matchup began as a tightly contested affair with both players trading blows throughout much of the first set. However, the world number one eventually shifted gears late in the frame, capitalizing on Pegula’s second serve to secure a narrow 7-5 lead and seize control of the match.
Once the momentum swung her way, Sabalenka left little room for doubt in the second set. Delivering what many observers called her most impressive stretch of tennis in the entire tournament, she dominated the court with sheer power, firing off 29 winners compared to Pegula’s 12. The result was a decisive 6-2 finish that capped off an encounter far more one sided than their previous meetings in recent years. Following the win, Sabalenka expressed pure joy at her performance, noting how desperately she wanted the victory.
With this win, Sabalenka extends an incredible streak of 19 straight matches won at the U.S. Open dating back to 2023. While she is expected to cede her top ranking to Elena Rybakina next week regardless of the outcome, she remains focused on adding another trophy to her cabinet. If she wins on Saturday, she will become the first woman since Serena Williams between 2012 and 2014 to claim three straight championships in New York.
Sabalenka now awaits the winner of the other semifinal clash between seeds Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff. Given her current form and aggressive baseline play, analysts suggest it may be difficult for any opponent to slow her down before Saturday’s final showdown at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
