Aryna Sabalenka Vs Jessica Pegula: Top Seed Wins In Straight Sets, Enters US Open Final 4th Year In A Row

Last Updated:September 11, 2026, 07:19 IST

Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to reach the US Open final for the fourth year in a row.

Aryna Sabalenka is one win away from completing hat-trick of US Open titles. (AP Photo)

Aryna Sabalenka powered into the US Open final for a fourth consecutive year on Thursday, crushing Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 and keeping her historic bid for a third straight title alive. The top seed was in commanding form on Arthur Ashe Stadium, firing 29 winners and seven aces to overwhelm the third-seeded American.

Sabalenka has now beaten Pegula on the way to each of her last two US Open championships, in 2024 and 2025, and will return to the final on Saturday.

A victory in the title match would put the 28-year-old Belarusian alongside Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women to win three consecutive US Open crowns. She will face either second seed Elena Rybakina or fourth seed Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka needed patience in a tightly contested opening set. Pegula protected her serve throughout the early stages, frustrating her opponent as Sabalenka struggled to create opportunities. But with Pegula serving at 5-6, the pressure finally told.

Sabalenka earned three set points, survived one missed chance, then forced control of the decisive rally before Pegula sent a forehand into the net.

The second set quickly swung in Sabalenka’s favor. She repeatedly attacked Pegula’s vulnerable second serve and broke for a 3-1 advantage with a powerful forehand into the corner. Another break closed out the match, with Sabalenka producing one final thunderous forehand on match point.

For Pegula, the defeat marked another painful Grand Slam setback. She lost to Sabalenka in the 2024 final, the only major final of her career, before falling to the same opponent again in last year’s semifinals.

Sabalenka’s summer had been relatively quiet after consecutive Indian Wells and Miami titles in March, allowing Rybakina to overtake her for the world number one ranking. Rybakina had been steadily closing the gap for weeks and will claim the top spot regardless of Saturday’s result.

The Kazakh, who won the Australian Open in January after capturing her first major at Wimbledon four years earlier, entered the tournament after dealing with a heel injury. She is now set to face Gauff, a New York crowd favorite since her breakthrough US Open debut in 2019.

The men’s semifinals follow Friday, with Ben Shelton facing Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev meeting Karen Khachanov. Shelton eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a quarter-final that ended at 3:34 a.m., while Khachanov advanced past Felix Auger-Aliassime.

With AFP Inputs

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Who won the US Open women’s semifinal match between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula?

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, to advance to the US Open final for the fourth consecutive year. Sabalenka dominated the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, hitting 29 winners and seven aces to secure her victory.

Which female tennis players have won three consecutive US Open singles titles?

Chris Evert and Serena Williams are the only women to have won three consecutive US Open singles titles. Aryna Sabalenka is currently attempting to join them by winning her third straight title in the upcoming final.

Who will become the women’s world number one tennis player after the US Open?

Elena Rybakina will claim the world number one ranking regardless of the outcome of the US Open final. Rybakina steadily closed the ranking gap after Sabalenka experienced a relatively quiet summer following her Indian Wells and Miami titles in March.

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Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More

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