Sabalenka Stages Steely Comeback To Reach Final

US Open 2025

Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September

Coverage: Live power commentaries crossed 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, positive unrecorded matter commentaries connected nan BBC Sport website & app

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka showed existent grit arsenic she battled backmost from a group down to hit Jessica Pegula and scope a 3rd consecutive US Open final.

In a repetition of past year's showpiece, 4th seed Pegula was connected people to avenge her conclusion by Sabalenka arsenic nan American location dream grabbed nan opening set.

But nan Belarusian mostly kept her emotions successful cheque to shape a steely 4-6 6-3 6-4 comeback triumph and proceed her bid for a 4th Grand Slam singles title.

Sabalenka had led 4-2 successful nan first group earlier Pegula deed backmost and, aft going a break up successful nan decider, nan world number 1 had to prevention 4 break points earlier closing retired victory.

Asked what she was reasoning astatine that moment, Sabalenka said: "I was conscionable praying wrong and hoping for nan best.

"It was a really reliable match, she played unthinkable tennis arsenic ever and I had to activity really difficult to get this win.

"Hopefully I tin spell each nan measurement again."

Sabalenka, who has yet to triumph a awesome title successful 2025, has now reached six successive finals astatine nan hard-court Grand Slams.

She will look either two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka aliases American Amanda Anisimova successful Saturday's showpiece.

"It intends a lot. I will spell retired location connected Saturday and I will conflict for each constituent for illustration it's nan past constituent of my life," she added.

It has been a disappointing play successful position of Grand Slam occurrence for Sabalenka, considering she reached nan last astatine nan Australian and French Opens.

She besides made it to nan semi-finals astatine Wimbledon, but connected each 3 occasions emotions sewage nan amended of nan 27-year-old.

She trim an anguished fig passim January's Australian Open final, wherever she was out-hit by Madison Keys.

An unforced correction count of 70 was her undoing against Coco Gauff astatine Roland Garros, while she was incapable to lucifer Anisimova's bravery astatine nan All England Club.

The collapses successful composure were reminiscent of her early profession - and thing she seemed to person put down her erstwhile she claimed 3 Grand Slam titles successful nan abstraction of 20 months.

But much heartbreak appeared to beryllium connected nan cards for Sabalenka arsenic Pegula - buoyed by a raucous crowd - came retired connected apical successful nan first set.

Sabalenka struck nan first rustle successful nan opener, swatting distant a booming forehand victor to break early, but a mediocre work crippled allowed Pegula consecutive backmost in.

The apical seed's irritation grew arsenic much unforced errors crept into her crippled and nan crowd loudly put their backing down Pegula, who collapsed again and wrapped up nan opener successful style pinch a assured emotion hold.

After taking an off-court break earlier nan commencement of nan 2nd set, Sabalenka returned pinch a renewed determination and quickly went 3-0 up acknowledgment to a much objective attack to her shot-making.

That spread was capable to spot her done nan remainder of nan group and unit a decider, which Sabalenka took power of from nan disconnected pinch an contiguous break.

The 27-year-old furiously fought disconnected Pegula's attempts to break backmost and fto retired a immense roar aft wrapping up nan triumph connected her 3rd lucifer point.

For Pegula, nan hold for a maiden Grand Slam title goes on.

The 31-year-old near past year's tourney empty-handed aft losing 7-5 7-5 to Sabalenka successful her first awesome final.

While she posed a greater threat this clip around, nan aforesaid force proved excessively resolute successful nan important moments.

Despite nan defeat, location are plentifulness of positives for New-York autochthonal Pegula to return away.

After reaching nan last astatine Flushing Meadows past year, Pegula grounded to spell beyond nan 4th information astatine nan adjacent 3 Grand Slams and suffered a humiliating first-round Wimbledon exit astatine nan hands of a subordinate classed 116th.

She arrived successful New York successful shaky form, winning conscionable 2 matches successful her past 4 tournaments.

But Pegula has looked backmost to her champion during nan past week and a half, sweeping speech 5 opponents - 2 of whom were two-time Grand Slam winners - successful consecutive sets.