Aryna Sabalenka battled through nerves and fierce resistance from Jessica Pegula to secure her place in the U.S. Open final for the third consecutive year. The world No. 1 came from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a gripping semifinal under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her victory moves her one step closer to defending her title and claiming her fourth Grand Slam crown.
A Match Defined by Grit and Power
Pegula started strong, rallying from a 2-4 deficit to take the first set with clean hitting and composure. Sabalenka, visibly frustrated, left the court briefly before the second set and returned with renewed focus. She broke early and dominated the middle frame, leveling the match with aggressive shot-making and improved serving. In the final set, Sabalenka saved four break points and held firm under pressure, eventually sealing the win on her third match point.
Sabalenka’s Emotional Response
After the match, Sabalenka expressed the emotional weight of the moment. “I think I really played great tennis. I think I handled that pressure really well,” she said. “I’m super proud of this win,” she added, describing herself as “super emotional.” Her roar of celebration after the final point echoed through the stadium, a release of tension and triumph after a season filled with near-misses.
A Season of Challenges and Growth
Sabalenka’s journey to the final has been shaped by hard lessons. She fell short in the finals of both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year, and was stopped in the Wimbledon semifinals. Each setback has fueled her determination, and her performance against Pegula showed a player who has learned to channel pressure into power.
Awaiting Osaka or Anisimova
Sabalenka will face either Naomi Osaka or Amanda Anisimova in the final. Both opponents present unique challenges, but Sabalenka’s form and mental resilience make her a formidable contender. With her sights set on another U.S. Open title, she stands ready to fight for every point and finish the season on a high.
Sabalenka at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2025
At the moment ranked no.1, Aryna has a composed 55-10 win-loss record in 2025. Sabalenka is currently competing at the U.S. Open where she bested the world no.108 Rebeka Masarova 7-5 6-1, the world no.67 Polina Kudermetova 7-6(4) 6-2
, the world no.30 Leylah Annie Fernandez 6-3 7-6(2), the world no.95 Cristina Bucsa 6-1 6-4, the world no.60 Marketa Vondrousova w/o and the world no.4 Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-3 6-4.Sabalenka clinched 3 titles in 2025 in Brisbane, Miami and Madrid. Sabalenka was the runner-up at the Australian Open, in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open), in Stuttgart (Porsche Tennis Grand Prix) and at the French Open.
The Belarussian won 20 titles in her career: 15 on hard courts, 3 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Jessica Pegula in 2025
Currently the world no.4, Pegula played her last match on the 4th of September when she lost to world no.1 Aryna Sabalenka 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal of the U.S. Open (draw).
At present, during this year Pegula has achieved a composed 42-17 match record. The American conquered 3 titles in 2025 in Austin, Charleston and Bad Homburg. Jessica got to the final in Adelaide and Miami.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula fought against each other 10 times. Their record is 8-2 for Sabalenka.