American star Jessica Pegula produced a stunning comeback to reach her first-ever Grand Slam singles final, where she will face world number two, Aryna Sabalenka, at the US Open. Pegula fought back from a set down and saved crucial break points to defeat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a thrilling semifinal.
The local favorite, who had previously stumbled at the quarterfinal stage in six Grand Slam tournaments, showed incredible determination to turn the match around. Pegula’s victory followed her quarterfinal triumph over world number one Iga Świątek, making this a breakthrough in her career.
Pegula will now face Sabalenka, who secured her spot in the final by defeating American Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in straight sets. Sabalenka’s victory marked her second consecutive appearance in the US Open final, making her the first woman since Serena Williams in 2019 to achieve this feat at Flushing Meadows.
Despite the crowd favoring Navarro, Sabalenka kept her composure, even jokingly addressing the New York crowd’s support. “Now you’re cheering for me, but it’s a little too late,” Sabalenka said with a smile during her post-match interview. She later playfully teased the fans by promising to buy them margaritas if they cheered for her.
The Belarusian player is no stranger to facing local favorites, and she is prepared to compete against a New Yorker on her home turf in the final on Saturday. Sabalenka acknowledged the crowd’s energy, saying, “Even though you were cheering for her, I got goosebumps from your support.”
Pegula reflected on her difficult start against Muchova, admitting that her opponent’s dominant play left her feeling vulnerable. “I was almost in tears because it was so embarrassing,” Pegula confessed. “She made me look like a beginner, and I’m honestly unsure how I turned it around.”
As the two elite players prepare for Saturday’s showdown, all eyes will be on Pegula as she looks to claim her first Grand Slam title in front of a home crowd, while Sabalenka aims to go one step further than last year and capture the coveted US Open trophy.
