Sabalenka levels Serena's record with a thrilling comeback to reach the US Open final, Pegula delivers a performance beyond expectations

The tenth duel between Sabalenka and Pegula ended with the Belarusian woman prevailing, but observers considered it a match with no losers, as both showed performances worthy of great praise.

Before the match began, Pegula had already gained the sympathy of the entire online community!

Bookmakers significantly underestimated Pegula, offering odds of 1.3 for Sabalenka and 3.5 for Pegula; despite being the US Open’s home favorite, Pegula was not treated kindly. The tournament officials predicted Pegula’s winning chance at 33%, crushed by Sabalenka’s 67%. Some even felt sorry for Pegula, saying the US Open’s lack of faith in their own favorite was like a mother doubting her own daughter, calling her an outsider rather than family.

When Sabalenka broke Pegula’s serve early in the first set to seize control, many believed Pegula was heading for a heavy defeat, confirming the bookmakers’ and officials’ predictions. However, Pegula quickly broke back, instantly changing the momentum on court.

After unexpectedly taking control of the first set, Pegula didn’t waste the opportunity, winning 6-4 and sending a strong message to the bookmakers and US Open officials, while igniting cheers from fans and viewers watching live.

Given Sabalenka’s unstoppable start, almost everyone watching live expected a swift victory for the Belarusian, so the unexpected twist of Pegula winning the first set caught many by surprise.

Although Sabalenka quickly recovered in the second set, winning 6-3 to even the match, most viewers believed that the bookmakers and US Open officials had misjudged the situation. This was far from a one-sided match; it was a true 50-50 battle, with Pegula deserving recognition for her effort.

The deciding set was the highlight of the entire match, as Sabalenka and Pegula exchanged offense and defense, breaking each other’s serve and showing tremendous determination, which greatly increased the suspense. Even with Sabalenka holding a break advantage, many still felt it was uncertain whether she would ultimately prevail, as Pegula had a real chance to upset the world number one.

This was clearly evident as Pegula, with incredible resilience and toughness, repeatedly pressured Sabalenka’s service games, creating break opportunities and saving match points during her own serve, convincing viewers that she was fully capable of turning the match around.

Although Pegula ultimately fell short and Sabalenka closed the final set 6-4 to win the match, the Belarusian’s victory was extremely narrow. This is why after the match, many praised Pegula for delivering a performance that far exceeded expectations, earning respect despite the loss.

Of course, while praising Pegula, Sabalenka also deserves applause. The Belarusian proved why she is world number one by maintaining composure and calmly handling the pressure in such a difficult situation, truly showing the qualities of a champion worthy of this victory.

With this thrilling comeback win over Pegula, Sabalenka set a new record: reaching the US Open final three years in a row, becoming the first active female player to achieve this feat and standing proudly among the best.

Moreover, Sabalenka’s advancement to the US Open final also establishes her as the top female player of this season, rivaling queen Serena Williams.

In 2016, Serena reached the semifinals in all four Grand Slams, an achievement no female player has matched since. Few expected that nine years later, Sabalenka would equal this remarkable record, which is truly outstanding.

Following Sabalenka’s progression to the US Open final, discussions quickly heated up about whether the Belarusian can break the Flushing Meadows curse and become the first to successfully defend the title since queen Serena.

Since Serena’s successful US Open title defense in 2014, the women’s singles crown has rotated like a game of hot potato for ten years, with no one managing to defend it. Now Sabalenka has this opportunity, and whether she can match Serena’s record has become one of the biggest storylines of this US Open, generating great anticipation!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonriver’s Starry Sky)