5 milestones Aryna Sabalenka achieved by winning the US Open 2024
Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the final to win the women's singles title at the US Open 2024. It marked her third Major title following her two victories at the Australian Open. It is also her fifth Major title overall, having won a couple of Major titles in doubles as well, one each at the US Open and the Australian Open.
Sabalenka's consistency at the Majors is finally being translated into titles. Despite several deep runs, she had only one Grand Slam title to her name until the end of last year. Having won two Majors in a single season for the first time in her career, she will now aim to maintain this level in the coming years as well.
After a heartbreaking loss to Coco Gauff in last year's final, this year's triumph will taste even sweeter for Sabalenka. As she celebrates her latest victory, here's a quick look at the milestones she achieved with her US Open win:
#1 - Aryna Sabalenka became the first woman to win the Australian Open and the US Open in the same season since Angelique Kerber in 2016
Sabalenka defended her Australian Open crown earlier this year, and has now claimed her maiden US Open title. She became the first woman to win both hardcourt Majors in the same year since Kerber in 2016.
Kerber beat Serena Williams in three sets to secure her maiden Major title in Melbourne. She capped off the year with her second Grand Slam title in New York with a three-set win over Karolina Pliskova. Now, after a period of eight years, Sabalenka has followed in her footsteps.
#2 - Aryna Sabalenka is the fifth woman to win both hardcourt Majors in the same year
Sabalenka is the fifth woman to lay her hands on the winner's trophy at the Australian Open and the US Open since the former event switched to hardcourts. Steffi Graf was the first to do so in 1988, and replicated the feat the following year.
Monica Seles joined the club when she did it twice in a row in 1991 and 1992. Martina Hingis became a part of this list in 1997, and as mentioned earlier, Kerber did this in 2016.
#3 - Aryna Sabalenka ends the season with the fifth-highest winning rate at the Majors in this century
Sabalenka went 18-1 at the Major this year, which translates to a 94.7 percent win rate. Only four women have done better than her in this regard since 2000. Serena Williams swept all three Majors that she played in 2002 for a 100 percent winning record that season.
Williams' 2015 season puts her in second place as well as she went 26-1 that year for a 96.3 percent winning rate. She occupies the third position as well due to her 2003 season, in which she won two Major titles and reached a semifinal. She had a 19-1 record that year, and a 95 percent winning rate.
Justine Henin won a couple of Grand Slam titles and made a semifinal in 2007, which led to a 95 percent winning record that season. Sabalenka's incredible 2024 season has now solidified her presence alongside these two legends of the sport.
#4 - Aryna Sabalenka is the first player to finish back-to-back seasons with most Grand Slam wins since Serena Williams
Williams' dominance ensured that she was the only player to finish a year with most wins at the Majors. The last time the American achieved this feat was in 2015 and 2016. She went 26-1 and 24-3 respectively in those two years.
No player asserted their dominance at the Majors in back-to-back years since then until this year. Sabalenka notched up 23 Grand Slam wins last year, and is tied with Jasmine Paolini for most wins at the Majors this year with 18.
The Belarusian could've secured more victories this season. However, she was forced to skip Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury, and an illness contributed to her loss at the French Open.
#5 - Aryna Sabalenka is the sixth woman to win the US Open title after being the runner-up the previous year
Reaching back-to-back Major finals isn't an easy feat to achieve. To do the same after losing the final the previous year is even more difficult. However, six women have managed to do so in the history of the US Open in the Open Era.
Chris Evert lost the US Open final in 1979 but came back stronger the next year to win the title. Martina Navratilova came up short in the 1985 final in New York, and flipped the script the next year to walk away with the title.
Graf was beaten in the 1987 and the 1994 finals, and she turned the tables to win the US Open title the following years. Serena Williams did this on two occasions as well. She faltered at the last hurdle here in 2001 and 2011, and then emerged victorious the very next year.
Henin went down in the 2006 final, and used that as inspiration to win the title in 2007. Sabalenka led Gauff by a set in the final last year, though she couldn't get over the finish line. However, she learned from her mistakes and kept her composure to secure the title this year.