Aryna Sabalenka moved into the US Open women’s final after a strong win over Jessica Pegula. The world No. 1 defeated the American 7-5, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result placed Sabalenka one victory away from winning her third straight US Open Tennis title.
The match between Sabalenka And Pegula started as a close battle. Pegula stayed with the defending champion during the first set and handled her powerful shots well. However, Sabalenka became more aggressive as the match continued. Her strong serve and deep returns helped her take control.
A Close Tennis Start Between Sabalenka And Pegula
Both players started the Tennis match well. Pegula stayed calm in long rallies, while Sabalenka used her powerful serve and attacked from the baseline.
The first set remained close until Sabalenka put more pressure on Pegula’s serve. She earned a late break and closed the set 7-5.
Sabalenka Controls the Second Set
Winning the opening set gave Sabalenka more confidence. She played with better timing and started the second set at a faster pace. Pegula found it difficult to answer the speed and depth of her shots.
Sabalenka controlled the second set by:
- Serving strongly during important points
- Attacking Pegula’s second serve
- Taking the ball early from the baseline
- Hitting deep shots toward both corners
- Staying calm when rallies became longer
These parts of her game prevented Pegula from building any momentum. Sabalenka often pushed her opponent behind the baseline before hitting a winner into the open space.
Pegula tried to change the direction of the rallies, but she had little time to prepare her shots. Sabalenka continued to apply pressure and earned a clear lead. She won the second set 6-2 and completed the match in one hour and 36 minutes.
Pegula Struggles Against Sabalenka’s Power
Pegula played well during the early part of the match. She matched Sabalenka in many rallies and avoided making too many simple errors. Her steady Tennis kept the first set competitive.
The match changed after she lost the opening set. Sabalenka began returning with more power, which forced Pegula to defend. This stopped Pegula from moving forward and playing on her own terms.
Pegula also had very few chances to break Sabalenka’s serve. Without those chances, she needed to protect her own serve in almost every game. That became harder as Sabalenka improved her level.
The American continued to fight, but she could not stop Sabalenka from controlling the match. The final score showed the difference between their performances in the second set.
Sabalenka Continues Her Success Against Pegula
Sabalenka And Pegula have met in the final stages of the US Open for three straight years. Sabalenka has won all three of those important Tennis matches.
Their recent US Open results are:
- 2024 final: Sabalenka won 7-5, 7-5
- 2025 semifinal: Sabalenka won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
- 2026 semifinal: Sabalenka won 7-5, 6-2
The latest result was more one-sided than their previous match in New York. Pegula pushed Sabalenka hard during the first set, but the defending champion quickly pulled away in the second.
Sabalenka’s record shows how well she plays under pressure at the US Open. Her powerful style works well on the hard courts, while her improved control helps her avoid costly mistakes.
Sabalenka Moves Closer to a Third Straight Title
The victory gave Sabalenka a place in her fourth consecutive US Open final. It also kept her chance of winning three straight titles alive. Reaching another final confirms her place as one of the strongest players in women’s Tennis.
For Pegula, the loss ended another impressive run at her home Grand Slam. She reached the semifinal and again showed that she can compete with the best players. However, she could not maintain her level against Sabalenka’s power.
The latest meeting between Sabalenka And Pegula was decided by the final games of the opening set. Once Sabalenka took the lead, she became more confident and controlled the remaining action. Her serve, returns and attacking shots helped her earn a straight-set victory and another opportunity to win the US Open title.
