Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka wins final against American Jessica Pegula

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (world number two) won the US Open tennis tournament for the first time on Saturday, September 7 in New York, beating American Jessica Pegula (7-5, 7-5) in the final. Sabalenka, 26, beaten last year in the final by Coco Gauff, won a third Grand Slam title after her successes at the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024. She thus becomes the first player to win both major tournaments played on hard courts in the same season since German Angelique Kerber in 2016.

In an Arthur Ashe court with a closed roof to counter the heavy rain that hit New York, the Belarusian first managed to get out of a high-tension first set, which saw the two players dominate in turns and at times bang their rackets on the ground in frustration.

Sabalenka quickly lost her serve (2-1 Pegula) before breaking back in quick succession (2-2) and then taking off (5-2) by playing the lines with powerful shots.

The Belarusian then made too many unforced errors (23 in the first set alone, 34 in total), allowing her opponent to come back to 5-5. At 6-5 for Sabalenka, Pegula saved four set points on her serve before cracking on an opponent’s drop shot.

A game full of twists and turns

In the same vein, the second set saw several reversals of fortune. Sabalenka first led 3-0 and seemed to be heading towards the title by obtaining a break point, before Pegula rebelled. The American then found her form, distributing the exchange perfectly, enough to score five consecutive games by taking advantage of Sabalenka’s errors to lead 5-3. Unfortunately, the Belarusian proved too solid as the tension mounted.

Disturbed by the powerful support of the American public for Coco Gauff last year, Sabalenka seemed to better control the hubbub of the Arthur-Ashe this time in favor of a new local player. Jessica Pegula, for the first time in the final of a major tournament at 30 years old, nevertheless shone at Flushing Meadows, notably eliminating the Polish world number one, Iga Swiatek, in the quarterfinals. Her final will propel her to third in the world on Monday, enough to match her best ranking.