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Sabalenka powers into fourth consecutive US Open final

Aryna Sabalenka. Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Sports Ministry

MINSK, 11 September (BelTA) – World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus has reached her fourth consecutive US Open final, BelTA has learned.

Last night, the defending US Open champion took on world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the USA in the semifinals, cruising to a straight-sets victory, 7-5, 6-2. The encounter lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes.

In the championship match on 12 September, the Belarusian’s opponent will be world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who rallied past world No. 4 Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

En route to the final, Sabalenka also notched victories over Camila Osorio of Colombia (No. 59) 6-2, 6-4, Polina Iatsenko of Russia (No. 160) 6-1, 6-1, Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan (No. 92) 6-3, 6-4, Taylor Townsend of the USA (No. 96) 6-4, 6-3, and Linda Noskova of Czechia in a thrilling 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) clash.

Previously, Sabalenka made three straight US Open final appearances: finishing as runner-up to Coco Gauff in 2023 before bouncing back to defeat fellow Americans Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova in the next two finals. Back in 2019, Sabalenka and Elise Mertens of Belgium captured the doubles crown, beating the duo of Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Ashleigh Barty of Australia. In the singles draw, Azarenka was a three-time finalist (2012, 2013, 2020) but missed out on the trophy on all three occasions.

The season’s final Grand Slam major is nearing its conclusion in New York on 13 September. This year, the 2026 US Open features a record-setting $108 million total purse, with a massive $5.5 million payout awaiting both the men’s and women’s singles champions. In 2025, Spanish Carlos Alcaraz lifted the men’s singles trophy.

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