Aryna Sabalenka Reaches US Open Final, One Win From Historic

Aryna Sabalenka is one victory away from a historic third consecutive US Open title. The world No. 1 defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the semi-finals on Thursday, September 10, 2026, setting up a championship match against second seed Elena Rybakina on Saturday.

A Desperate Push to the Final

Sabalenka admitted she was "so desperate for the win" after a tense start against Pegula. Her frustration boiled over, leading her to smash her racquet twice during the first set. But she channeled that energy perfectly, breaking Pegula on set point and then dominating the second set with her trademark power. She fired seven aces and 29 winners, overwhelming the third seed from the baseline to secure her place in a fourth straight final at Flushing Meadows.

Surviving a Brutal Quarter-Final Test

The path to the final was far from straightforward. Just days earlier, on Tuesday, September 8, Sabalenka survived her toughest challenge of the tournament. She needed over three hours to edge Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in a dramatic quarter-final, winning 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(10-7). Noskova, who fired 18 aces, was the first player to take a set off Sabalenka in New York this year and led by a break in the deciding set. "I was pushing myself to the limit," Sabalenka said after saving the match. That win extended her unbeaten run at the US Open to 18 straight matches.

The Stakes of the Championship Showdown

Saturday's final carries immense historical weight. A win would make Sabalenka the first woman since Serena Williams to win three US Opens in a row. Only Williams and Chris Evert have achieved that feat in the Open Era. Her opponent, Elena Rybakina, who is set to become world No. 1 next week, presents a monumental obstacle. This final is a clash between the tournament's top two seeds, a fitting conclusion to a women's draw where the top four all reached the semi-finals for the first time at a major since 2009.

• Historic Pursuit: Sabalenka aims for a third straight US Open title, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams.
• Semifinal Dominance: She has now reached the US Open semifinals for six consecutive years.
• Recent Form: Her victory over Pegula avenged a pre-tournament prediction that favored the American in three sets.

Sabalenka's quest for a place in tennis history reaches its climax this weekend. You can follow the final result and review her season statistics on our [stats](/stats) page.