‘Desperate’ Sabalenka books US Open title clash with Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka stormed past Jessica Pegula in straight sets on Thursday to keep her bid for a rare US Open three-peat on track, booking a championship showdown with Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka was simply unstoppable in a 7-5, 6-2 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she beat Pegula en route to US Open victories in 2024 and 2025. Rybakina battled back to beat 2023 champion Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. In Saturday’s final the Kazakh will try to deal Sabalenka another blow after her run to the semi-finals ensured she will end the Belarusian’s reign atop the world rankings. Sabalenka, bidding to join Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women to win three straight US Open titles, pounded third-seeded Pegula remorselessly with her powerful groundstrokes. “I was super desperate,” said Sabalenka, who has had a slow summer since back-to-back wins at Indian Wells and Miami in March.

“I wanted it badly to go to the finals, and of course, I want to go all the way. “The mentality was just I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever it’s going to take to get the win,” Sabalenka added after producing her best performance of the tournament to snuff out Pegula’s dream of a first ever Grand Slam title. Sabalenka’s frustration at her inability to make any headway against Pegula’s serve showed in a tense first set. But she maintained her focus and was rewarded as Pegula, feeling the pressure to stay in the set as she served down 6-5, fell behind 0-40. The American saved one set point but couldn’t salvage the next. Sabalenka kept rolling in the second set, attacking Pegula’s suspect second serve and seizing a break for a 3-1 lead when she lasered a forehand into the corner. She sealed the victory with another break courtesy of another thunderous forehand. “I thought her level was insanely…