Story perspectives

Sabalenka Beats Pegula to Reach US Open Final

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 6:39 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Sabalenka Reaches Final

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to reach the US Open final.
She hit 29 winners and served seven aces, overwhelming Pegula’s serve.
Even if she wins, Sabalenka will relinquish the world No. 1 ranking to Elena Rybakina.
Her win extended a 20-match US Open winning streak.
Sabalenka will meet the winner of Elena Rybakina versus Coco Gauff in Saturday’s championship match.

Summary

Pegula Starts Semifinal

Pegula begins her semifinal at 4:30 AM IST, broadcast live on Star Sports Network in India.
Indian viewers can stream the match on the JioHotstar app and website.
At 32, Pegula became the oldest Open-era player to reach multiple major semifinals in one season.
Pegula’s 19 three-set wins this year set a tour-wide season record, though she said conditions were physical and humid.

History

Historical Context

Serena Williams broke new ground in 1999 when, at 17, she captured her first US Open singles title—becoming the first African-American woman to win a major since Althea Gibson in 1958 and earning an $800,000 prize. Her power-baseline triumph set a template that today’s aggressive players such as Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula continue to follow at the tournament.

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Sabalenka Reaches Final

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to reach the US Open final.
She hit 29 winners and served seven aces, overwhelming Pegula’s serve.
Even if she wins, Sabalenka will relinquish the world No. 1 ranking to Elena Rybakina.
Her win extended a 20-match US Open winning streak.
Sabalenka will meet the winner of Elena Rybakina versus Coco Gauff in Saturday’s championship match.

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