US Open: Comeback queen Pegula sets up title clash with Sabalenka
Jessica Pegula mounted a remarkable comeback to secure her place in the US Open final, overcoming Karolina Muchova with a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Pegula, who had struggled in previous major quarter-finals, fought back from a set, a break, and a break point down to reach her first Grand Slam singles final.
Pegula will face Aryna Sabalenka in the final, who has also been in impressive form. Sabalenka reached the final for the second consecutive year by defeating Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).
The Belarusian has become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2019 to make back-to-back singles finals at Flushing Meadows.
In her match, Sabalenka dealt with a raucous crowd that had supported Navarro, but she maintained her composure, even joking about the situation during her post-match interview. “Well now you’re cheering for me, it’s a bit too late,” Sabalenka remarked, adding humorously, “Margaritas for everyone!”.
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Pegula’s journey to the final has been fraught with challenges. Despite past struggles in major quarter-finals and a recent split from her coach, she has shown resilience. Her victory over Muchova came after a rocky start, with Pegula initially looking out of sorts before finding her rhythm and fighting back strongly.
Sabalenka, known for her powerful game and recent improvements in handling crowd noise and momentum swings, demonstrated her quality against Navarro by hitting 34 winners and maintaining her composure during crucial moments.
As Pegula and Sabalenka prepare to face off in the final, both players have demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
