Tennis-Sabalenka survives Pegula storm to win U.S. Open women's title
By Amy Tennery
NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters) -Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka hoisted the trophy in New York at last after years of close calls, as she outplayed American sixth seed Jessica Pegula 7-5 7-5 in the U.S. Open women's final on Saturday.
Sabalenka won her first title at Flushing Meadows a year after coming up short in the final. Twice before, she reached the semi-finals. On Saturday, she blocked out the wild cheers for the hometown favorite at Arthur Ashe Stadium to break Pegula in the final game.
"So many times I thought I was so close to get U.S. Open title. Finally, I get this beautiful trophy," said the second seed, who fought back from a breakdown in both sets to claim victory and fell to the court in her moment of triumph.
Pegula, 30, had waited a long time to reach her first major final and came to New York in fine form after winning in Toronto. But she could not match her opponent’s raw power despite the noisy backing of the New York crowd.
"To be standing here in my first Grand Slam final and then coming off such a hot summer, I mean I didn't expect it so I'm just really grateful for the last few weeks of tennis," said Pegula.
The roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium was closed due to heavy rain and the players traded breaks twice as they settled into the stormy affair in front of a celebrity-packed house.
Sabalenka held her serve through a four-deuce 11th game and fought through a spine-tingling 12th, mixing precision at the net with her usual power from the baseline before breaking her opponent on the fifth set point.
Pegula struggled with her rackets throughout the match, complaining to her coaches as she seemed unable to find the right tension on her strings, and it looked as though she would not put up a fight in the second set when Sabalenka went up 3-0.
The American found another level and brought fans to their feet when she won the next five games in a furious fight back, a month after Sabalenka denied her the title in Cincinnati.
Sabalenka leveled when she sent over a forehand winner that just kissed the line on break point in the 10th game and sought to bring a swift end to the contest, holding serve and then applying pressure from the baseline in the final game.
Sabalenka's backhand return of Pegula's 30-40 serve ignited a desperate six shot rally, ending with a break as the American's forehand sailed out.
"Honestly, after me leading 3-love I didn't really expect her to come back with such a high level," she said.
"I'm really glad that I was able to hold my serve in that 5-3 down. Then to break her back, it gave me so much belief that I can close this match in two sets."
Tears flowed immediately for Sabalenka as sheclaimed her third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open twice. She high-fived fans as she ran up the stands to share a joyful celebration with her team.
"I remember all those tough loses in the past here and you know, it's going to sound cheesy but never give up on your dream and just keep trying," she said.
The Belarusian dropped only one set in New York on her way to the final as key contenders including defending champion Coco Gauff and top seed Iga Swiatek crashed out.
The performance was particularly sweet after injury sidelined her midway through the season, and she missed both Wimbledon and the Paris Games.
"I'm super proud of myself, super proud of my team that no matter what, no matter what situation we were facing this season and in the past we were able to go through it," she said.
FANS EMBRACE
Sabalenka has had an up-and-down relationship with the Flushing Meadows crowd after she found herself across the court from another home hope, Gauff, a year ago in the championship.
She jokingly offered the boisterous ticket-holders a free round of drinks if they would support her after she sent another American, Emma Navarro, packing in the semi-final this time around.
There was no sign of her picking up the bar tab on Saturday - even as she collected a cool $3.6 million with the win - but the New York crowd gave her proper credit as she lifted the trophy she had craved for so long.
"Of course I expected you to cheer for Jessica. That wouldn't be normal if you would cheer for me," she told the fans in her post-match remarks.
"Thank you so much for all the support throughout these two incredible weeks. You guys are really amazing and you make this place very special."
The U.S. fans have another home hope to cheer for on Sunday, when Taylor Fritz aims to end a 21-year American men's major drought against Italian top seed Jannik Sinner in the men's final.
Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, additional reporting by Karl Plume in New York, Frank Pingue in Toronto, Trevor Stynes in Gdansk, editing by Pritha Sarkar, Toby Davis and David Gregorio
면책조항: XM Group 회사는 체결 전용 서비스와 온라인 거래 플랫폼에 대한 접근을 제공하여, 개인이 웹사이트에서 또는 웹사이트를 통해 이용 가능한 콘텐츠를 보거나 사용할 수 있도록 허용합니다. 이에 대해 변경하거나 확장할 의도는 없습니다. 이러한 접근 및 사용에는 다음 사항이 항상 적용됩니다: (i) 이용 약관, (ii) 위험 경고, (iii) 완전 면책조항. 따라서, 이러한 콘텐츠는 일반적인 정보에 불과합니다. 특히, 온라인 거래 플랫폼의 콘텐츠는 금융 시장에서의 거래에 대한 권유나 제안이 아닙니다. 금융 시장에서의 거래는 자본에 상당한 위험을 수반합니다.
온라인 거래 플랫폼에 공개된 모든 자료는 교육/정보 목적으로만 제공되며, 금융, 투자세 또는 거래 조언 및 권고, 거래 가격 기록, 금융 상품 또는 원치 않는 금융 프로모션의 거래 제안 또는 권유를 포함하지 않으며, 포함해서도 안됩니다.
이 웹사이트에 포함된 모든 의견, 뉴스, 리서치, 분석, 가격, 기타 정보 또는 제3자 사이트에 대한 링크와 같이 XM이 준비하는 콘텐츠 뿐만 아니라, 제3자 콘텐츠는 일반 시장 논평으로서 "현재" 기준으로 제공되며, 투자 조언으로 여겨지지 않습니다. 모든 콘텐츠가 투자 리서치로 해석되는 경우, 투자 리서치의 독립성을 촉진하기 위해 고안된 법적 요건에 따라 콘텐츠가 의도되지 않았으며, 준비되지 않았다는 점을 인지하고 동의해야 합니다. 따라서, 관련 법률 및 규정에 따른 마케팅 커뮤니케이션이라고 간주됩니다. 여기에서 접근할 수 있는 앞서 언급한 정보에 대한 비독립 투자 리서치 및 위험 경고 알림을 읽고, 이해하시기 바랍니다.
