The 28-year-old Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the 2026 U.S. Open women’s singles final with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over third-seeded Jessica Pegula on September 10, 2026, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, New York. The win extended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the U.S. Open, dating back to her 2023 final loss to Coco Gauff. She now faces the winner of the semifinal between second-seeded Elena Rybakina and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff, with a potential third consecutive U.S. Open title within reach.
Sabalenka’s dominance was evident throughout the match, as she recorded 29 winners to Pegula’s 12. The Belarusian star, currently the World No. 1, described her performance as the better level from me
compared to their previous encounters, including her 2024 U.S. Open final and 2025 semifinal victories. Pegula, who reached the semifinals for the third consecutive year, acknowledged Sabalenka’s superior play, stating, 彼女は異常なプレーをした。超ハイレベルなプレーをした。正直、今日私ができることは何もなかったと思います。
American Jessica Pegula falls to top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in
The match drew over 20,000 fans to Arthur Ashe Stadium, marking the first time the top four women’s seeds reached the U.S. Open semifinals since 1975 and the first such occurrence at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2009. Sabalenka, dressed in all black, began the contest with aggressive baseline exchanges, trading “hellfire” with Pegula. The first set remained closely contested until Sabalenka’s surge in the final games. After a 4-4 tie, she broke Pegula’s serve with a backhand winner following an eight-shot rally, then closed the set with a forehand winner off a second serve. The 43-minute set ended with Sabalenka holding serve at 5-6, capitalizing on Pegula’s missed opportunities.
Pegula’s frustration grew as Sabalenka’s intensity increased. After saving a break point with a forehand volley, Pegula conceded the set, later admitting, I tried to stick around to see if the level would go off, but it seemed like it just got better as the match went on. Sabalenka carried her momentum into the second set, breaking Pegula’s serve twice and never dropping her own. She faced only one break point in the match, which she converted into a 4-1 lead. Pegula’s struggles with Sabalenka’s second-serve pressure—she won just five of 19 second-serve points—proved decisive.
Aryna Sabalenka on brink of US Open trifecta after
Sabalenka’s performance underscored her growing reputation as a “final boss” at Flushing Meadows. Her 19 consecutive U.S. Open wins include victories over Gauff in 2024 and 2025, though those matches were more competitive. This year’s semifinal was a “rout,” with Sabalenka’s relentless aggression overwhelming Pegula. The Belarusian star credited her focus to a recent loss to Pegula on grass in Berlin, stating, この試合では、私に少しのチャンスしかないような気分にさせた一方で、試合の最初から最後まで集中しなければならないことを知っていた。
If Sabalenka secures the title, she would join Serena Williams (2012–2014) as the only women to win three consecutive U.S. Open titles. Rybakina, who will overtake Sabalenka as World No. 1 next week, is poised to face her in the final. Sabalenka, however, expressed no concern about relinquishing the top ranking, stating, 1位を譲っても構わないと思っていた。 The match highlighted her unshakable confidence, as she noted, 私がどんな決定をしても、それが正しい決定であると感じていた。
The victory further solidified Sabalenka’s legacy at the U.S. Open, where she has reached the final in each of her past four appearances. Her dominance on hard courts has been consistent, with her 2026 semifinal performance marking another chapter in her rivalry with Pegula. As the final approaches, all eyes will be on whether Sabalenka can cement her place in history with a third consecutive title.