Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka is 2024 US Open Women’s Singles Championship, defeating American Jessie Pegula 7-5, 7-5. This is Sabalenka’s third career Grand Slam title and second this year.
After her win, Sabalenka told the sold-out crowd 23,000under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium, “I never say this, but, really, I’m super proud of myself.”
From the start of the match, you could hear the rain on the roof, which made the pro-Pegula crowd seem even louder cheering for the American when she timed a perfectly placed return that landed just inside the baseline at Sabalenka’s feet. to break for it. 2-1 .
But Sabalenka immediately left with her relentless power, shouting “Let’s go” after a crushing cross-court winner.
Sabalenka then won the next four games, hitting the ball so hard that Pegula couldn’t do much.
The American, serving well, held for 3-5with a terrific volley winner. After a series of errors from Sabalenka, and feeding off the energy of the fans, Pegula returned to 5 – all of them.
AFP–BE
In an exciting 14-Four-shot point game and great ball from both players – a bad backcourt by Sabalenka, a sharp line drive by Pegula – Sabalenka held for 6-5 .
In another thrilling game, it took five break points for Sabalenka to take the set. It looked like the American had plenty of chances to turn things around, but she was playing a lot of defense.
In the second set, Sabalenka was broken in the second game, then held to love for one 3-0 the bullet.
Again, Pegula fought back, playing with more variety—cutting one, then rushing one—and won five straight games to one 5-3 the bullet.
Sabalenka, however, held on and stopped that run 4-5and break for 5 – all of them. She then held on 15 and break into 30to win the match.
In her press conference, Sabalenka said: “I mean, it was really incredible tennis from her. I had my opportunities, and in 3-1I was serving, and then I had a break point and 3-love, but, you know, she came out victorious, with really aggressive tennis.
It just felt like a second, and it is 3-5and I’m serving, I was, like, Oh, wow that’s the crazy level of it.
“At that point, I said to myself, okay, just try to hold your serve. I was getting ready for the third set.
“At least you’ll be safe on your serve in the third set, and then I hold my serve. And I put so much pressure on him in that service game at 5-4 and I’m very happy that I was able to turn my back on him.”
Sabalenka is now only the fifth woman – after Graf, Seles, Hingis and Kerber – to win the Australian Open and USOpened the same year.
