World number two Aryna Sabalenka won her first US Open title in a two-set win over sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula on Saturday (7/9) night. The Belarusian defeated the American 7-5, 7-5 to complete a clean sweep of hardcourt major titles in 2024. 

Dropping just one set en route to the final, Sabalenka surged past Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals and swept a second set tiebreaker against 13th-seed Emma Navarro to reach a second straight US Open Final.

It is the third Grand Slam singles trophy for Sabalenka after she successfully defended her Australian Open title in January. However, she suffered a back injury in Rome and crashed out with illness in the Roland Garros quarter-final. She missed Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury.

Aryna Sabalenka. Photo: X

“I faced a lot of challenges on and off the court,” the Belarusian told reporters after the match.

“That’s why it’s very special, because no matter what, every time I was coming back stronger and I was learning. I never gave up on this dream, and yeah, you know, it means a lot.”

Sabalenka’s victory in New York sees her become the first player to win both hard-court Slams in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg