Jessica Pegula’s fairytale run at the US Open will reach a climax this weekend when the 30-year-old American takes on second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka for the women’s singles title.
Pegula on Thursday (5 September) came back from a set down to beat unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic the to reach her first career Grand Slam final. Both players had not dropped a single set going into the semi-finals.
Pegula has now won 15 of her last 16 matches. Her victory on Thursday guarantees that an American will compete in both singles finals, which has not happened at a major since 2009 at Wimbledon. The two men’s semi-finalists from the host country, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoesquare off against each other on Friday.
Pegula is the oldest first-time Grand Slam finalist at the US Open since Flavia Pennetta in 2015. She and Sabalenka, who returns to the final for the second straight year after losing to Coco Gauff in 2023.
On Thursday, Sabalenka defeated another American in the up-and-coming Emma Navarro in straight sets to move within one win of her third major championship. She is the winner of the last two Australian Opens.
Sabalenka and Pegula recently met two weeks ago in the final in Cincinnati. Sabalenka then won 6-3, 7-5.
Find the schedule of the final and how to watch the action below.
