The competition lasted for two weeks on the courts of Flushing Meadows, until finally two players were selected, who on Saturday evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium fought for their first title US Open. Aryna Sabalenka she already knew the taste of the final – she lost to Coco Gauff last year – but for Jessica Pegula this phase of the tournament is completely new. After all, it was only the first time she had made it through a Grand Slam quarter-final.
The 30-year-old American could count on the support of the packed stands of the greatest tennis era in the world. Steph Curry – the legendary basketball player – with whom the tennis player met before the final. In turn, the 26-year-old Belarusian was playing her 100th singles match in a Grand Slam tournament.
Strong start for Pegula. But Sabalenka responded quickly
Surprisingly, she is more susceptible to final emotions in the initial phase match It was Sabalenka who was the first to be broken in the third game. Pegula's plan was to change the rhythm frequently and provoke her opponent with a slide. However, the Belarusian managed to quickly make up for the losses. She was entering higher and higher gears. She caught such momentum that she did not give the American a moment to breathe. Pegula she started very well, but – unlike her rival – she began to lose her tone. Quickly from 2:1 it became 2:5 with a break for the vice-leader of the ranking, who won four games in a row.
– Be patient, you're doing great – Jessica Pegula's coaches encouraged their protégé. It worked, because the American reached break points in the last chance game of the first set. She used this chance with the help of her opponent's unforced errors. Arthur Ashe Stadium exploded with joy for the first time, because their representative brought the score to 5:5.
Both players had a huge problem winning balls after the second serve. Sabalenka also had double faults – the third one gave Pegula a break point. The Belarusian, usually full of energy and emotion, defended it, keeping a straight face. Ultimately, she held her serve after a long game, going 6:5.
The next game on the American's serve was equally long and dramatic. She had to come back from 15:40 and even had an advantage, but after the sixth set point, Aryna Sabalenka won the first set 7:6 in 60 minutes.
The twists and turns in the second set as well. Pegula did it again
The runner-up, like last year against Coco Gauff, won the opening game, but in the last few days she explained that she had drawn conclusions from this situation. Life said: I'm checking.
Aryna Sabalenka exposed her opponent's skills in the “small penalty” game with several shortcuts. Practically every time the American reached the net, the Belarusian won a point. Jessica Pegula, subdued and lacking faith, started the second set by losing her serve and the score was 0:3. Again, it was her opponent who won consecutive games – she was stopped for five in a row, counting the end of the previous set.
The defended break point at 0:4 poured new into Jessica Pegula and was the turning point of the second set. The representative of the hosts again started to return better and withstand the exchanges. Driven by the support of the audience, she made up for the loss of a break, and then tied 3:3. However, she did not stop there. A moment later it was already 4:3 with a break in favor of the American. She again changed the pace of the game well, which the vice-leader of the ranking did not cope with. This return of the 30-year-old reminded her of her previous semi-final match with Karolina Muchova. She was already losing 1:6, 0:2, but she turned the tide of the competition.
This set couldn't end normally, without another twist. Aryna Sabalenka's masterful return game gave her a rebreak. It was 5:5 again, and the momentum went to last year's finalist. She used it at the very end and, like in the first set, pressed the gas pedal.
After nearly two hours, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to become the US Open champion. It was her third Grand Slam title – her first outside the Australian Open.