Twelve months after she was undone by one inspired American in the US Open final, Aryna Sabalenka refused to be beaten by another.
Not this time; not here in Arthur Ashe Stadium; not again.
So when Jessica Pegula courageously fought back to level the first set after trailing 5-2, Sabalenka did not let her mind drift back to last September, when she was unable to capitalise on a similarly auspicious start against Coco Gauff. She did not dwell on the succession of heartbreaks she has suffered at Flushing Meadows, where she has made the semi-finals or better in each of the past three years only to be undone by Leylah Fernandez, Iga Swiatek and Gauff.
This time, when she held two break points early in the second set, just as she had done against Gauff last year, Sabalenka drove home the advantage. Even when Pegula, New York-born and willed on by a febrile crowd, rose from the canvas a second time to reel off five straight games and bring an absorbing contest to the brink of a decider, the Belarusian world No 2 did not blench. Her resolve was rewarded with a 7-5, 7-5 victory and a third grand slam trophy to sit alongside her two Australian Open crowns.
“I thought that I would be thinking a lot about previous years here, because I had a lot of tough lessons here at the US Open, very difficult ones I would say, especially last year,” said Sabalenka after marking her 100th grand slam match with a repeat of her straight-sets victory over Pegula in Cincinnati. “But today I just kept reminding myself that this is the US Open final, of course she’s going to fight really hard for it and it’s not going to be easy, and I have to work really hard to get it.
“In those tough moments, I was just trying to stay strong and remind myself that I’ve been through a lot and I’m strong enough to hold under this pressure. So I’m actually really glad that I didn’t have any [flashbacks to] last year.
“It’s a very special place here, the US Open, and I had a lot of tough losses in the past. I was always hoping that one day I’ll be able to hold this beautiful trophy, it’s been always my dream. That’s why it’s very special because, no matter what, every time I was coming back stronger and I was learning. I never gave up on this dream, and that means a lot.”
At the age of 26, Sabalenka is beginning to carve a niche alongside some of the greatest names in the sport’s history. With her latest victory, she joins Angelique Kerber as the second woman this century to win the Australian and US Open in the same season. Since 1988, meanwhile, when both events were held on hard courts for the first time, only Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis have completed the rarefied double. The only other female players in the open era to do it are Margaret Court, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Sabalenka’s father Sergey, who died in 2019, would have been proud.
“After I lost my father it’s always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis,” said Sabalenka. “Every time I see my name on that trophy, I’m so proud of myself and proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream and that they were doing everything they could to keep me going. I had this opportunity in life, so it really means a lot.”
Pegula too has dreamed of such moments. Before this week, the 30-year-old had lost all six of the grand slam quarter-finals she had contested. Having finally broken that duck with an inspired win over perennial nemesis Iga Swiatek, the sixth seed gave everything in pursuit of a first title at this level. Buoyed by a raucous reception as she emerged on to Ashe for the biggest match of her career, Pegula immediately made clear her determination to play the match on the front foot. She responded to an early ace from Sabalenka with an untouchable serve of her own as she levelled at a game apiece, then moved inside the baseline to drill a huge forehand return at the Belarusian’s feet and claim the first break.
Pegula’s aggression carried her within a point of consolidating her advantage before Sabalenka decided she had seen enough. A blazing forehand winner pulled the score back to deuce. Then, showcasing the variety she has added to her game over the past year, the Belarusian tempted Pegula into error with a floated defensive slice. A blazing return secured the break back, and from there Sabalenka began to dominate. She bossed the baseline exchanges. She made successful forays to the net. She slammed down serves at speeds of up to 119mph and won four straight games. It seemed a rout might be on the cards.
Then, the worm turned. Pegula played a strong service game. Errors began creeping into Sabalenka’s play. As the Belarusian served for the set, a double fault brought up a break point for Pegula. Sabalenka saved it with a booming forehand, but then made two straight errors off the same wing. Pegula, quietly confident but never cocksure, did her best to orchestrate the crowd, waving her arms slightly awkwardly. It did the trick. With an explosion of patriotic fervour still ringing in her ears, she played another fine service game to level at 5-5. Remarkably, she had won 14 of the previous 18 points. For Sabalenka, still nursing the scars of all those past disappointments, it must have felt like groundhog day.
When another double fault gifted Pegula a break point that would have left her serving for the set, Sabalenka was left beating at the ground in fury. She averted the danger with a courageous backhand winner that kissed the back edge of the baseline, but she was flirting with disaster.
Pegula was now returning with depth and conviction, so much so that Sabalenka attempted a 111mph second serve. Inevitably, it resulted in another double fault. But the world No 2 kept swinging, and after eight tense minutes she finally held. Pegula saved four set points in the next game, the initiative swinging back and forth until a double fault from the American handed Sabalenka a fifth. Now she offered another reminder of her expanded repertoire, sealing the set with a deft backhand that was part drop shot, part short, angled slice.
“It’s really good to have these options in your pocket,” said Sabalenka. “Sometimes you don’t feel your best on the baseline, and you can just go for a slice, or a drop shot, or come to the net. I’ve always worked on this variation on the court, and I’m really glad that that I’m brave enough to use these tools in those key moments.”
They were needed again when Pegula, having recovered from 3-0 down in the second set, served to force a decider at 5-4. Sabalenka began the game with a wonderful display of balletic athleticism, rising to angle away a high backhand volley with her back to the court. She ended it in signature style, slamming a forehand winner on to the sideline to break. She would not be caught again.
“I have to go for it, that’s the only way it works for me,” smiled Sabalenka.
As this victory proved, that is no longer altogether true. When Pegula sent a final forehand long, signalling the end of her resistance, Sabalenka sunk to her knees and then collapsed on her back, her body shaking with emotion. After a consolatory hug for the American, she made her way into the stands, half-crying, half-laughing, before celebrating wildly with her support team. It is unlikely to be the last time we witness such scenes.