Jessica Pegula of the United States reacts after defeating Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the women’s singles semifinals of the U.S. Open, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in New York.
Julia Nikhinson/AP/AP
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Julia Nikhinson/AP/AP
The women’s singles final of the US Open has been decided: Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula will compete against each other on Saturday.
Sabalenka, seeded No. 2, defeated No. 13 seed Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 in Thursday’s semifinals. Meanwhile, No. 6 seed Jessica Peluga defeated unseeded Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“I’ve been working really hard on my mindset for the matches,” Sabalenka said. “I think I’ve really improved that calmness in the crucial moments tremendously. I’m really happy to see that I can stay focused in those key moments and just try to do my best and focus on my tennis, on the things I need to do to win the match, not like on the outside.”
Belarus’ Sabalenka returns to the US Open final for the second consecutive year after losing to Cocoa Gauff last year. Sabalenka is the first player since Serena Williams in 2018 and 2019 to reach the final of the tournament in two consecutive years.
For Pegula, Thursday’s match was her first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal. Saturday’s final is a rematch of the Cincinnati Open final in August, which Sabalenka won 6-3, 7-5.
