NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula refused to let another painful US Open defeat overshadow her belief in her own game, instead offering glowing praise for Aryna Sabalenka after the defending champion produced a dominant performance to reach yet another final at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka defeated American third seed Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the US Open semifinals, ending the home favorite’s latest bid for a maiden Grand Slam title and moving within one victory of a historic third consecutive championship in New York.
But while the result was disappointing for Pegula, the American remained remarkably composed after the match, admitting that Sabalenka had simply been operating at an exceptionally high level.
Pegula said she believed she had played well but acknowledged there was little she could have done against a performance she described as close to flawless.
The loss was another painful chapter in Pegula’s growing US Open rivalry with Sabalenka. The Belarusian also defeated Pegula in the 2024 US Open final and the 2025 semifinals, making this the third consecutive year that Sabalenka has ended Pegula’s title hopes in New York.
Sabalenka’s Power Eventually Proves Too Much
The semifinal began as a far tighter contest than the final score suggested.
Pegula stayed with Sabalenka throughout much of the opening set and looked capable of turning the match into another tense battle between two of the world’s best players. However, Sabalenka’s relentless aggression eventually began to take control.
The top seed finished with 29 winners and seven aces, overwhelming Pegula with the explosive power that has become her trademark. Pegula managed just 12 winners as Sabalenka increasingly dictated rallies and took command of the match.
After edging the first set 7-5, Sabalenka accelerated dramatically in the second, breaking Pegula down with aggressive returning and punishing groundstrokes to close out a convincing 6-2 victory.
Pegula later joked that perhaps her victory over Sabalenka earlier this year in Berlin had given the world-class Belarusian some additional motivation.
That Berlin result had been significant because Pegula had entered the US Open having won two of her previous three meetings against Sabalenka. Yet on the sport’s biggest hard-court stage, Sabalenka once again found another level.
Another US Open Heartbreak — But Pegula Refuses to Lose Perspective
For Pegula, the defeat extends a frustrating wait for her first Grand Slam singles title.
The American has now reached the US Open semifinals for three consecutive years, demonstrating remarkable consistency at her home major. Yet Sabalenka has been the obstacle she simply has not been able to overcome in New York.
Despite that, Pegula’s reaction suggested a player determined not to let one defeat define her tournament.
Rather than focusing solely on what went wrong, she gave Sabalenka credit and maintained that she had competed well against an opponent who produced an elite performance when it mattered most. Reuters reported that Pegula remained upbeat and even found humor after the loss, highlighting the sportsmanship that has become a hallmark of her approach.
The defeat will hurt, particularly after Pegula’s impressive run to the semifinals included a comeback victory over fellow American Emma Navarro in the quarterfinals.
But reaching the last four for a third straight year reinforces her status as one of the most consistent players in women’s tennis — even as the elusive Grand Slam trophy remains just out of reach.
Sabalenka Now Chasing a Rare US Open Three-Peat
For Sabalenka, however, the victory was about far more than another place in a Grand Slam final.
The two-time defending champion has now reached her fourth consecutive US Open final and extended her remarkable dominance at Flushing Meadows.
She is now one victory away from becoming the first woman since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Open singles titles. In the Open Era, only Serena Williams and Chris Evert have achieved that feat.
Sabalenka’s latest victory also extended her streak of consecutive hard-court Grand Slam finals to eight, dating back to the 2023 Australian Open — a remarkable run that underlines her dominance on the surface.
The achievement is particularly striking given that Sabalenka entered the latter stages of the season after what she described as a difficult period following her strong start to 2026.
Reuters reported that Sabalenka had struggled to reach the same heights after winning Indian Wells and Miami earlier in the year. But New York appears to have revived her confidence at exactly the right time.
One More Match. One Shot at History.
Pegula’s US Open dream may be over for another year, but the American leaves New York with another deep run and a reminder that she remains firmly among the elite players on the WTA Tour.
For Sabalenka, the stakes are now even higher.
One more victory would deliver a historic US Open three-peat and place her alongside some of the greatest names in women’s tennis.
And after the way she dismantled Pegula in the semifinal, one question now hangs over Flushing Meadows:
Can anyone stop Aryna Sabalenka before she makes history?
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