September 08, (THEWILL) – Aryna Sabalenka claimed her third Grand Slam title with a victory over Jessica Pegula in the 2024 US Open final. The world number two from Belarus won 7-5, 7-5 in a thrilling match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sabalenka’s triumph marks her second major win of the year, following her success at the Australian Open in January. She becomes the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to win both hardcourt Grand Slams in a single season.
The match was closely contested, with Pegula mounting a comeback in both sets. The American recovered from 2-5 down in the first set to level at 5-5, before Sabalenka took it 7-5. In the second set, Pegula fought back from 0-3 to lead 5-3, but Sabalenka won four straight games to seal the championship.
Sabalenka’s powerful hitting proved decisive, as she struck 40 winners during the match. The victory marked a significant improvement from her 2023 US Open final loss to Coco Gauff. A capacity crowd of 23,000 spectators, including celebrities like Noah Lyles, Steph Curry, and Lewis Hamilton, watched the gripping contest.
This win cements Sabalenka’s position among the elite of women’s tennis. For Pegula, despite the disappointment, her run to the final included notable victories over world number one Iga Swiatek and Karolina Muchova, demonstrating her progress at the highest level.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
