US Open: Sabalenka edges Pegula in semifinal thriller
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame American Jessica Pegula in a gripping three-set battle, rallying for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory
Aryna Sabalenka, US Open 2025 | © PsNewz
Aryna Sabalenka fought back from a set down to defeat American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday, keeping alive her bid to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win back-to-back US Open titles.
In a thrilling two-hour and five-minute semifinal rematch of last year’s final, the top-seeded Sabalenka, who is also the defending champion, overcame a spirited challenge from the No. 4 seed to advance to her third consecutive final in Flushing Meadows.
“It was a really tough match. She played incredible tennis. I had to work really hard to get this win,” Sabalenka said in a post-match interview. “Just super happy to be in the finals again and hopefully I can go all the way again.”
No 2024 revenge for Pegula
The match began with Pegula, who was seeking to avenge her loss in last year’s championship, playing with a renewed sense of purpose. She had reached her second straight US Open semifinal, a feat not accomplished by an American woman since Serena Williams in 2018-2019
Playing in front of a partisan home crowd, the American’s clean hitting and tactical prowess were on full display as she expertly navigated Sabalenka’s power game. Pegula won an impressive 74% of her first-serve points (77% in) and committed a mere three unforced errors in the first set, breaking Sabalenka twice and sealing the set 6-4 on a four-game run.
Sabalenka, who had a 7-2 head-to-head advantage over Pegula coming into the match, was back at the mental toughness she had lost this season in the previous majors, and that was evident as she regrouped between sets. She returned to the court with a ferocious resolve, immediately breaking Pegula in the second game and racing to a 3-0 lead.
Sabalenka’s power game, a hallmark of her play, began to take hold. She finished the match with a staggering 43 winners and served 8 aces, overwhelming Pegula with her relentless aggression. On her first serve, Sabalenka would eventually win 72% of the points, a key factor in her turnaround.
Sabalenka’s 99 wins
The third set was a testament to the high-quality tennis played by both women. Sabalenka secured an early break to go up 2-0, but Pegula refused to surrender, fighting valiantly to save three break points in a tense sixth game. Despite the crowd’s vocal support, Pegula was unable to make a dent on Sabalenka’s service games (82% of service poits won) as the match wore on.
While Sabalenka’s first-serve percentage was a solid 67%, her second-serve percentage of 53% showed some vulnerability that Pegula was unable to exploit. Pegula’s second-serve points won stood at a higher 62%, but it wasn’t enough to withstand the onslaught. The Belarusian, who haven’t won a major in 2025, showed why she is the top player in the world, closing out the match on her third match point with a forehand winner.
The win brings her career Grand Slam main-draw record to 99 wins, putting her on the brink of a major milestone. Having already secured the No. 1 ranking for the remainder of the year and tied with Pegula for the most titles won this season with three apiece, her triumph over Pegula solidifies her position at the top of the game.
For Pegula, the loss marks another frustrating end to her US Open campaign. While she played some of her best tennis, she was ultimately unable to convert her opportunities, with a break point conversion rate of just 29% compared to Sabalenka’s 43%.
Sabalenka will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova in the final on Saturday.
