Aryna Sabalenka expects the crowd to not be on her side when she takes to the court for the US Open final.
The world No.2 is through to the title match in New York for a second year in a row after ousting Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6(2). Sabalenka, who won her second Australian Open title earlier this year, is the first female player since Serena Williams to reach back-to-back finals at the Grand Slam. She is yet to lose a set in this year’s tournament.
Sabalenka’s latest win featured a total of 34 winners alongside 34 unforced errors. Behind her serve, she won 65% of points. The clash against Navarro was far from easy for Sabalenka, who failed to serve the match out when leading 5-3 in the second frame before prevailing in the tiebreak. On top of that, she also had to contend with the animated crowd who was cheering on their home player. Sparking memories of her clash against Coco Gauff in the 2023 final when she led by a set before losing the match.
“That was a very difficult match, especially at the end of the second set — I got a little emotional and had this little flashback on last year’s final, meaning the crowd atmosphere,” she said during her press conference.
“I’m really glad that the lessons learned, and I was able to control my emotions and I was able to close this match in two sets.
“Last year, it was a very tough experience — a very tough lesson. Today in the match, I was, like, ‘No, no, no, Aryna, it’s not going to happen again. You have to control your emotions. You have to focus on yourself.’
“There was people supporting for me. I was trying to focus on them. I’m thinking, ‘come on, there is so many peoplesupporting you. There is your team in the box. There is your family. Just focus on yourself and try to — not try — justfight for it.’”
Despite the flashbacks, the 26-year-old says the Arthur Ashe crowd wasn’t too ‘crazy‘ compared to 12 months ago.
“They were loud, but during the point, they were respectful and chill,” she said.
“Last year they were just super loud, even during the point. It was that loud, so it was blocking my ears, so that was, like, so much pressure.”
Pegula awaits
Embed from Getty ImagesSabalenka is set for another testing environment on Saturday when she plays comeback queen Jessica Pegula for the title. Pegula booked a place in her first major final by overcoming a nightmare start to beat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. The American world No.6 was at one point losing the match, 1-6, 0-2 (30-40), before clawing her way back to victory.
30-year-old Pegula is the oldest American woman to reach their maiden Grand Slam final in the Open Era. Earlier in the tournament, she knocked out world No.1 Iga Swaitek.
“I came out flat, but she was playing unbelievable, she made me look like a beginner,” Pegula said.
“I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing, she was destroying me.
“I don’t know how I turned that around, honestly.”
As for the reason for her slow start against Muchova, Pegula believes her laidback approach backfired.
“I feel like before the match with Iga I was way more nervous, and today I was just, like, whatever. Maybe that was bad because I clearly came out super flat,” she explained.
“I was trying to think that maybe it was good that I felt really loose, but clearly I was a little too loose.
“Some days you come out you feel great; some days you come out and you are super flat. You just have to deal with it. I’m sure playing back-to-back nights maybe could have contributed as well. I don’t know. I guess we’ll never really know.”
Advantage Sabalenka?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe showdown will be a repeat of the Cincinnati final between Sabalenka and Pegula last month which the Belarussian won in straight sets. Sabalenka currently leads their head-to-head 5-2 but both of her losses to the American have been on a hardcourt, including last year’s WTA Finals.
“We had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult and tight matches.” Said the former world No.1.
“She’s (Pegula) playing really incredible tennis. We played in Cincinnati. It was a tough match, even though I closed the match in two sets, but still it wasn’t that easy.
“She’s playing her best tennis, I would say, and feels like she’s back on track.”
Pegula has won 15 out of 16 matches during the American hard court swing with Sabalenka being the only person to have beaten her. So far in her career, she has recorded 21 wins over top 10 players and won six WTA titles.
“She’s a great hardcourt player if not one of the best in the world, but I think I’m also a really good hardcourt player,” Pegula said of her upcoming opponent.
“I know that I can have a game that can possibly frustrate her. I feel like in the past I just have to be aggressive, I have to get her moving, serve smart, and try and put some pressure on her serve.
“I’m just going to try and play my game.”
Sabalenka is bidding to become the first woman since 2016 to win both the Australian Open and US Open titles within the same season. Meanwhile, Pegula aims to become only the third American woman in the Open Era to win the US Open after turning 30. Following in the footsteps of Williams and Martina Navratilova.
