US Open women’s final 2024: Aryna Sabalenka holds off Jessica Pegula to win third Grand Slam title
Aryna Sabalenka won her first US Open title as she put the disappointment of last year’s final behind her to hold off home hope Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka was seen smashing her racquet on the floor of the locker room after losing the Flushing Meadows showpiece to Coco Gauff in 2023.
However, 12 months on, the Belarusian second seed earned redemption in New York, dropping to the floor in celebration after clinching a thrilling 7-5 7-5 win over Pegula.
It is a third Grand Slam singles title for Sabalenka after she succesfully defended her Australian Open title in January.
It also continues her dominance on hard courts, with the win over the sixth seed extending Sabalenka’s unbeaten run on the surface at major tournaments to 14 matches.
The 26-year-old ran up to her player’s box to celebrate the victory, hugging her team and jokingly slapping the head of her strength and conditioning coach Jason Stacy, who had a replica of Sabalenka’s tiger tattoo printed on the area.
For Pegula, the wait for a first major title goes on.
Playing in a first Grand Slam singles final, the 30-year-old was buoyed by a partisan crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium and made a late surge to halt Sabalenka.
But Sabalenka fought back from a 5-3 deficit in the second set before wrapping up victory after one hour and 53 minutes to claim 2,000 ranking points and $3.6m (£3.04m) in prize money.
