US Open 2024 Women's Final: Jessica Pegula vs Aryna Sabalenka preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (6) Jessica Pegula vs (2) Aryna Sabalenka
Match Timing: 4 pm local time, 8 pm GMT, 1:30 am IST
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Tournament: US Open 2024
Round: Final
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, U.S.A.
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $75,000,000
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN, RDS | India - Sony Network
Jessica Pegula vs Aryna Sabalenka preview
Sixth seed Jessica Pegula will take on Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open women's singles final on September 8. It will be the second successive final at the New York Major where Sabalenka will face a sixth-seeded American.
Pegula entered the US Open at the back of some impressive results, that included winning the Canadian Open and reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open. The 30-year-old booked her place in the semifinals with straight-set wins over Shelby Rogers, Sofia Kenin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 18th seed Diana Shnaider and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Here, she faced Karolina Muchova, who got off to a brilliant start and took the first set 6-1. Pegula found herself a break down in the second set but showed incredible resolve to win it 6-4 and force the match into a decider. Both players produced some fine tennis in the third set but Pegula was not to be beaten, and she registered a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 win to reach her maiden Grand Slam singles final.
Aryna Sabalenka entered the US Open at the back of a title triumph at the Cincinnati Open, during which, she did not drop a single set. The Belarusian started her campaign in Flushing Meadows with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Priscilla Hon.
She then registered a solid 6-3, 6-1 win over Lucia Bronzetti before coming back from a set down to beat 29th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Sabalenka then registered a 6-2, 6-4 win over 33rd seed Elise Mertens to reach the quarterfinals.
The World No. 2 then trounced Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-2 to set up a semifinal clash against 13th seed Emma Navarro. Sabalenka did well to take the first set 6-3 but the American fought hard in the second, which went to a tiebreak, The Belarusian won it to secure a 6-3, 7-6(2) win and reach her fourth Grand Slam final.
Jessica Pegula vs Aryna Sabalenka head-to-head
Sabalenka currently leads 5-2 in the head-to-head between the two. Their most recent fixture came in the final of the Cincinnati Open, with the Belarusian beating Pegula 6-3, 7-5.
Jessica Pegula vs Aryna Sabalenka odds
All odds sourced from BETMGM.
Jessica Pegula vs Aryna Sabalenka prediction
Sabalenka might be considered the favorite to win by many due to her superior head-to-head record and the fact that she beat Pegula less than three weeks back. However, the American has been in terrific form lately, as reflected by her performances in Toronto, Cincinnati and New York. So, we could have a thrilling encounter on our hands.
Sabalenka has a strong serve that has fetched her 30 aces so far throughout the US Open. The Belarusian also has 172 out of 236 points on her first serve while hitting 165 winners compared to 140 unforced errors. Sabalenka is a powerful hitter and loves to play aggressively. Her composure has also become better over the past couple of years.
Jessica Pegula has won 177 out of 247 points on her first serve so far during the US Open, accumulating 19 aces. The 30-year-old also produced 103 winners compared to 121 unforced errors. Pegula will have to be very careful in dealing with Sabalenka's intensity, as the Belarusian could force her to make mistakes.
The American's resilience was also on show, especially during her semifinal against Karolina Muchova.
While Sabalenka will be a tough cookie, Pegula's composure along with the crowd support could see her edge out the World No. 2 and win her maiden Grand Slam title.
Pick: Jessica Pegula to win in three sets.