Aryna Sabalenka Clinches US Open Title After Years of Near Misses

After years of heartbreak in New York, Aryna Sabalenka has finally secured the US Open trophy. The 26-year-old Belarusian, who had endured tough defeats in previous tournaments, including last year’s final loss to Coco Gauff, defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in a thrilling final.

Sabalenka’s journey to victory at Flushing Meadows was marked by persistence and resilience. “I remember all the tough losses here,” she said after her win. “They say you’re going to see the reason later. I see the reason right now.”

This victory caps off a season that tested Sabalenka both on and off the court. Earlier in the year, her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov tragically passed away, and she battled physical challenges, including a stomach issue during her French Open quarter-final and a shoulder injury that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon.

However, the injury break allowed her to regroup and refresh. Sabalenka’s positive attitude and light-hearted approach with her team in New York were evident, particularly when she playfully poked fun at her fitness trainer Jason Stacy’s tiger tattoo replica during the celebrations.

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion on hard courts, has cemented her status as a dominant force on the surface, with an outstanding record of just one loss in her past 28 major hard-court matches. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has called her the “best hard-court player in the world.”

With this US Open victory, Sabalenka now has the chance to challenge Iga Swiatek for the year-end world number one ranking, setting up an exciting rivalry in the women’s game.

As she continues to honor her family’s legacy, Sabalenka’s success feels even more significant. “Every time I see my name on that trophy, I’m so proud of myself, I’m proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream,” she said.