"I'm more than sure you're gonna get 1... maybe more" - Aryna Sabalenka backs Jessica Pegula for Grand Slam glory after denying her US Open 2024 title
Aryna Sabalenka extended a heartwarming message of support to Jessica Pegula after beating the American in the 2024 US Open final. The Belarusian commiserated with Pegula while expressing confidence in her ability to win a Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka and Pegula locked horns in a closely contested battle for the US Open title, with the World No. 2 clinching the opening set 7-5. Although the Belarusian rushed away to a 3-0 lead in the second set, Pegula went on a tear to win five games in a row and had the opportunity to serve for the set at 5-4.
Despite the setback, Aryna Sabalenka held her nerve to level the scores and claimed a 7-5, 7-5 victory after a one-hour and 53-minute battle, clinching her maiden US Open title and third Grand Slam title overall.
The 26-year-old was left "speechless" over her triumph during the trophy presentation as she reflected on achieving her long-held dream of triumphing at the New York Major.
Having been in the same position as Jessica Pegula after losing the US Open final last year, Sabalenka commiserated with the American over her "tough" loss. The Belarusian backed Pegula to win at least one Grand Slam title, hailing her as an "amazing" player.
"Talking about Jessica, I know how tough it is to lose in the finals but you're showing some amazing tennis. And I'm more than sure that one day you're gonna get one. I mean, not one, maybe more but let's start from one Grand Slam. Congratulations on a great summer, you're an amazing player," Aryna Sabalenka said.
Responding to Pegula's hilarious complaint about not allowing her to win a set, Sabalenka admitted that she was simply "praying" for a win and couldn't afford to lose a set.
"In that second set, honestly, I was just praying. I was literally saying that I'm praying for getting this win and you're talking about giving you one set," she added.
Aryna Sabalenka extends her dominance in rivalry with Jessica Pegula after US Open 2024 triumph
Aryna Sabalenka entered the 2024 US Open final with a 5-2 lead in her head-to-head record against Jessica Pegula. With her commanding performance in the title clash, striking 40 winners to Pegula's 17, the World No. 2 improved her dominant record against the American to six wins and two losses.
Pegula, unable to avenge her loss to the Belarusian in the 2024 Cincinnati Open final, humorously complained about Sabalenka not even letting her win a set. Nevertheless, she hailed the 26-year-old as the best hard-court player in the world and lauded her "super powerful" game.
"I wish she would have at least let me get one set. Oh God. We had obviously another tough match in Cincinnati a few weeks ago and she's been playing some amazing hard-court tennis, if not the best hard-court player in the world. So I knew it was gonna be challenging and tough. I mean, she's super powerful, goes for her shots," Pegula said.
With her triumph, Aryna Sabalenka became the first player to win both the Australian Open and US Open titles in the same season since Angelique Kerber in 2016, joining Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Martina Hingis in the elite list of players to achieve the feat.