Aryna Sabalenka’s quest for a US Open three-peat continues apace.
The two-time defending champion overpowered No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in Thursday’s semifinal to reach another title match in Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka, the No. 1 seed, won eight of the last nine points to take a tight first set before dominating in the second for an eventual 7-5, 6-2 win over the 32-year-old American.
She’ll take on Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s final (4 p.m. ET).
Rybakina, who’s already guaranteed to unseat Sabalenka as the World No. 1 when the new rankings are released next week, advanced to her first-ever US Open final by defeating Coco Gauff later on Thursday.
Saturday’s championship match will be Sabalenka’s fourth consecutive trip to the US Open final. She lost to Gauff in 2023 before lifting the trophy in each of the last two years, and has now won 19 straight matches at the tournament.
“No complaints,” Sabalenka said after producing 29 winners against Pegula. “I’m just super happy that I was able to pull out such tennis.”
Another victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday would make Sabalenka the first player to win three consecutive US Open titles since Serena Williams accomplished the feat from 2012 to 2014.
If she hammers the ball as cleanly as she did versus Pegula, it’ll be hard to stop her from doing just that.
Sabalenka is looking to win her fifth career Grand Slam. Her four previous triumphs – two each at the US Open and Australian Open – have all come on hard courts.
Pegula, meanwhile, is still seeking her first major crown.
“I think that’s definitely – you can ask her – probably the best match she’s played this year,” Pegula said of Sabalenka. “I mean, I thought her level was insanely high.”
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