The 2024 US Open women’s singles final promises to be an electrifying contest between second seed Aryna Sabalenka and sixth seed Jessica Pegula. Both players have been in exceptional form throughout the season, and each is poised to capture her first US Open title.
Sabalenka, already a two-time Grand Slam champion, enters as the more experienced player on tennis’ biggest stages, while Pegula will be contesting her first Major final in her home Slam. It’s a showdown of power, precision,
and mental toughness, with both players vying for the ultimate prize at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka’s 2024 season has been one of significant highs, starting with her successful defence of the Australian Open crown in January, where she defeated Elena Rybakina in a thrilling final. Though clay didn’t favour her as she fell to Iga Swiatek in the finals of both Madrid and Rome, Sabalenka rebounded in the summer hard-court season. After taking time off due to a shoulder injury – she skipped Wimbledon and the Olympics – returning in full force to win the Cincinnati Open. Her form on hard courts this season has been impeccable, with her aggressive baseline game and dominant serve leading her to a remarkable 11-match win streak heading into the US Open final.
Pegula, on the other hand, has showcased resilience and steady growth throughout this year. Injuries to her neck and ribs forced her to miss significant parts of the clay season, including the French Open. However, the 30-year-old found her best form during the North American summer hard-court swing. She won the title in Toronto and finished runner-up to Sabalenka in Cincinnati, proving her readiness for the year’s final Major. Pegula’s road to her first Grand Slam final has been paved with hard work and determination, making her the oldest first-time finalist at the US Open in the Open Era.
In New York, Sabalenka has been unstoppable, dropping only one set en route to the final. Her dominant run included an impressive quarter-final victory over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, where she controlled the match from start to finish. Her semi-final performance against rising star Emma Navarro was another display of her powerful game, as she held off a second-set surge from Navarro to win in straight sets. Sabalenka’s ability to dominate with her serve and groundstrokes has made her a formidable force throughout the tournament, and she now seeks to win both hard-court Majors in the same season—a feat last accomplished by Angelique Kerber in 2016.
Pegula’s US Open journey has been equally remarkable. After dispatching the world No. 1, Iga Swiatek, in the quarter-final in straight sets, Pegula displayed incredible mental strength in her semi-final comeback against Karolina Muchova. Down a set and 2-0, she rallied to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, showcasing her tenacity and ability to perform under pressure. Pegula’s consistency, particularly on serve, and her tactical brilliance have carried her deep into the draw, and she now stands on the brink of her first major title.
Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 5-2, including a recent win over Pegula in the Cincinnati final. However, in a Grand Slam final, past records are often insignificant. Pegula, buoyed by the New York crowd, will look to match Sabalenka’s intensity from the start, knowing that allowing the Belarusian to dictate could be costly.
With both players in peak form, the final promises to be a gripping contest that could go the distance, with the first US Open title on the line for both.