Aryna Sabalenka beats Jessica Pegula to win US Open women’s final – live reaction | US Open Tennis 2024

Sabalenka is overjoyed, and goes to meet her people – and Flavor Flav. Commiserations to Jessica Pegula, who showed the grit of any good New Yorker. The service was often wonky but when her game came together, Sabalenka had too much for an opponent who was nonetheless a worthy finalist. That was a fine, fine final.

Sabalenka wins the US Open, beating Pegula 7-5 7-5

Pegula 5-7 5-6 *Sabalenka

A double fault at 15-15 halts the revival. Pegula goes for broke down the line and falls 15-30 behind. Both players risking so much; makes for a great tennis. Big serve forces game point. And on second serve, too. Big hold, and the pressure is all on Pegula.

Sabalenka breaks back to level

Pegula 5-7 5-4 *Sabalenka

Big chance for Pegula but Sabalenka starts to channel her anger. Sabalenka’s serve takes it to 15-15. Then comes a huge overhead. Then a mighty forehand. But Pegula smashes the ball at her shins and she has no answer. Still he holds, big hold and Pegula must serve out this second set.

Pegula* 5-7 5-3 Sabalenka

It’s 30-0 within seconds, and it briefly looks as if Pegula’s powers of recovery have saved her in the next point. Then comes a slip and it’s 30-30. Then 40-30 before an untimely double. Pegula allows herself a wry smile. Sabalenka is a face of sadness. Courtney Cox looks on and claps, as do Hammo and Anna W as Pegula claims the game.

John G in Connecticut is missing a classic: “Sabalenka’s primal scream with every single solitary friggin’ shot is so off-putting. Switched to The Perfect Couple on Netflix and will await the men’s final tomorrow. Can’t there be a rule about this?”

Pegula breaks Sabalenka and leads the second set

Pegula* 5-7 3-3 Sabalenka

Sabalenka is getting another racquet changed. The home crowd are full of beans. Their girl is back in this. She starts with a chopping drop shot and then another for 30-0. Then a huge, swiping forehand from down on her haunches. The comeback kid. Then comes a double, acceptable at this stage. Then comes an error, less acceptable and a huge cheer of encouragement. But then a gasp as she misses the shot – for 40-40. Tracey Austin, with Andy Roddick, don’t look impressed. Still, Sabalenka misses a winner down the line. And clanks the next! It’s level in the second.

Pegula breaks back!

Pegula* 5-7 1-3 Sabalenka

The second serve from Pegula is not finding its way past Sabalenka. At 30-30, another chance for the Belarusian, and one offered up by a spinning, top-spun forehand that clatters off the line. Brilliant play, though just as good is a low punch that takes Pegula back to deuce. Then comes a welcome big serve. Some fine baseline hitting and she claims her first game of the second set.

Pegula 5-7 0-3 *Sabalenka

The afterburners are on here, and the crowd smell disappointment. Big cheers for Sabalenka, and there’s a half-hearted backing of poor Jessica, who worked so hard, only to let it slip.

Sabalenka breaks Pegula in the second set

Pegula 5-7 0-1 *Sabalenka

Is the Sabalenka serve now working? Danger danger for Pegula. Though she rallies back to 40-30 she can’t save the opening game.

Sabalenka takes the first set 7-5

Pegula 5-6 *Sabalenka

A key stage of the match. Some fearsome returning and it’s 30-30. Then some racquet abuse to hand over break points with a double. Sabalenka then powers back to deuce. Then swats her 20th winner to take advantage. Pegula hasn’t given up: deuce once more. But Sabalenka holds her cool as she wins a rally at the net. The first serve is struggling, though, and so is the second. Another double! But then a thrashing backhand grabs another advantage. Pegula punches back with a zipping return. But eventually, Sabalenka holds. Pegula must serve to stay in the first set, and this feels like a three-setter.

Pegula* 5-5 Sabalenka

The Pegula service looks in far better nick. And as she goes to 40-0, Sabalenka changes her racquet. No use, a squawk of rage as she fails to dig out a backhand.

Pegula breaks back

Pegula* 3-5 Sabalenka

Pegula has changed racquet again. How many racquets can the owners of the Buffalo Bills afford? Seems to work, though, with some fine serving. Sabalenka is foxed by a couple of skidding efforts. That’s the strongest service game either has offered but Sabalenka will serve for the set.

Big cheers for Lewis Hamilton, Steph Curry and Billie-Jean King. The former Miss Moffit gets the biggest roar of the lot, as she rightly deserves.

Pegula 2-5 *Sabalenka

Sabalenka’s noise and power is prevailing, and Pegula is dropping to the back of the court, opening all the space up for those big shots. Pegula changes her racquet. Up in the stands, Stephen Curry seems to be enjoying the show. Home fires burn when Pegula makes it to 30-30. Sabalenka aims to take game point but instead wangs it off court. Deuce: Pegula is still full of fight but is beaten by a nice drop volley that she fails to reach. But then levels. Feels like a long night is in store, whatever happens in this game. Sabalenka takes back the lead with an overhead, clattering it home, then serves out with an ace, her third.

Sabalenka breaks again

Pegula 2-3 *Sabalenka

A crashing winner for 30-15 suggests Saba may have found her rhythm. But then comes a double for 30-30, and the use of a towel. That’s followed by fearsome serving, followed by a bludgeoned overhead, her quickest serve all tourney. Sabalenka holds when Pegula is far too ambitious down the line, and ends up missing it.

Sabalenka breaks back

Pegula breaks Sabalenka’s serve

Pegula* 1-1 Sabalenka

The noise is oppressive, perhaps a distraction to Pegula, who struggles to get her serve going. Still, she wins a rally to level at 15-15. Then comes a big serve, down the middle. Another forces an error. Impressive from Pegula as she levels. and jogs back to change her racquet.

Pegula 0-1 Sabalenka*

Pegula starts with zest, zipping after the Sabalenka serve, and, with the rain lashing down on the roof, it goes 15-30 but then to 30-30. And then a huge serve, and another. Game to the Belarusian.

The toss was won by Pegula, who elected to receive Sabalenka’s serve. So, here we go. this is it. It’s flooding down outside. US weather continues to look wild to us sat here in the UK.

Let’s hope neither player feels as bilious as Jack Draper did last night.

So, the ceremonials are done, and the players are knocking up as the PA system belches out adverts and housekeeping. “Two minutes,” calls the ump, and we are soon to be away.

“Sometimes there’s not much you can do,” says Pegula of her opponent who says she is full of confidence. It’s the Buffalo girl who comes out first, and to a loud reception and with a huge smile. She takes her headphones off. Warm enough reception for Sabalenka, too. Her headphones stay on longer.

Here we go with God Bless America, as sung by Mickey Guyton, using the cursive singing style we have had to get used to in recent years. It’s a pretty decent effort as these things go. Heading into the Arthur Ashe, in comes Lewis Hamilton. Flushing Meadows looks great, to be fair.

Weather news, it’s windy and cold in NYC, so the roof is on. Does that favour the bigger hitters? Advante Sabalenka in that case.

As the piece below shows, Pegula’s parents happen to own the Buffalo Bills. They will be hoping their daughter doesn’t do a Jim Kelly. The Bills roster have wished her good luck.

Sabalenka meanwhile has Belarus on her side.

Both players are going through their paces. Sabalenka’s coach has tattooed something on his head and she is using it as some kind of pressure point: think Yuri Geller on metatarsals for Rooney and Beckham, Laurent Blanc and Fabien Barthez.

And men’s doubles champs.

We have a new boys champion, too.

Great news for Great Britain, as Mika Stojsavljevic was crowned champion of the girls’ singles.

Some background on Jessica Pegula here.

And Tumaini Carayol’s preview of the final.

Preamble