Aryna Sabalenka wins maiden US Open title after defeating Jessica Pegula in 2024 final

Aryna Sabalenka has also won two Australian Open slams.

The US Open 2024 witnessed the coronation of a new queen at the iconic Arthur Ashe stadium as the second seed Aryna Sabalenka finally ended her wait, after two consecutive heartbreaks to win the US Open title for the first time. The Belarusian did so in what was a turbulent match with the pendulum swinging to and fro with Sabalenka eventually triumphing 7-5 7-5.

In 2022, Sabalenka was defeated by the eventual champion, Iga Swiatek in the semis and then went on to advance to the finals in 2023 before losing to Coco Gauff in the final. However, this time around, the first seed Swiatek and third seed Gauff were both were eliminated in the initial rounds and none of the top five ranked players made the cut for the final four.

Despite the relatively easy draw, the Belarusian still had to compete against two Americans in her final two matches, reigniting the ghosts of the 2023 final. The reigning Australian Open champion started slowly, going down in her second serving game.

Also Read: Jessica Pegula vs Aryna Sabalenka Highlights

However, she struck back soon after, breaking the American twice on serve and appeared to be heading towards a first-set victory. Jessica Pegula though, fought back, leveling the score at 5-5. With the home crowd rallying behind her, the pressure began to show on the Belarusian.

Yet, the champion in her rose to the occasion. Not only did Sabalenka hold her own service game, but she also broke Pegula’s serve, converting her sixth set point in a thrilling display of resilience. In the second set, the second seed seemed to be running away with it taking a formidable 3-0 set early on.

She nearly managed to break Pegula again but was at the receiving end of a masterclass from the American who fought her way back into the match to not just hold her own game but also break the Belarusian. Things seemed to run away when Sabalenka managed to stun the crowd and her opponent by unleashing the beast within to break Pegula in the final game, thereby scripting history at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A real statement from the now three-time Grand Slam champion, who had missed months of tennis due to a gruesome shoulder injury. When she won the Cincinnati Masters, many dismissed it as a consolation victory, noting that several top seeds were either returning from the Olympics or skipping the tournament due to fatigue.

However, with this latest triumph, she has silenced her critics and positioned herself with the best possible chance to become the world number one by the end of the calendar year.

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