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2024 US Open

Sabalenka Wins US Open Title for Third Major Trophy

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Aryna Sabalenka and Mary Joe Fernández after a women’s singles championship match at the 2024 US Open on Saturday, Sep. 7, 2024 in Flushing, NY. (Garrett Ellwood/USTA)

(September 7, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won her first US Open titles on Saturday afternoon when she defeated No. 6 Jessica Pegula of the United States 7-5, 7-5.

It was the 30-year-old Pegula’s first-ever major final.

It was a very back-and-forth first set. Pegula stuck first by breaking the powerful serve of Sabalenka to go up 2-1. Sabalenka won the next four games to make it 5-2. Pegula bounced back with three straight games of her own to make it 5-5. The 26-year-old Sabalenka battled to hold for 6-5. In the twelfth game Pegula fought off four set points but could not defend a fifth, Sabalenka breoke to capture the firsat set 7-5.

The Belarusian went up a quick break and took a 3-0 lead, but Pegula still kept fighting, getting ablls back, extending rallies, earning two breaks and winning five straight games for a 5-3 lead. Sabalenka held for 4-5. Pegula failed to serve out the set and the set was even at 5-5. Sabalenka picked up her power game and held to take a 6-5 lead. Sabalenka broke serve to end the match. 7-5, 7-5.

Jessica Pegula in action during a women’s singles semifinal match at the 2024 US Open on Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 in Flushing, NY. (Darren Carroll/USTA)


“It was very difficult match,” said Sabalenka. “She played really incredible tennis. Honestly, after me leading 3-Love I didn’t really expect her to come back with such a high level. I’m really glad that I was able to hold my serve in that 5-3 down. Then to broke her back, it gave me so much belief that I can close this match in two sets.

“So very difficult match, and super happy with the win.”

“Super-tough match today,” Pegula said to media. “Obviously I would love to be in a third set right now, but I guess relatively speaking, happy that I was able to at least get my chances to win a set, considering I was down in the first and in the second.

“So was able to find some good tennis. Just wasn’t quite able to sustain it. Yeah, congrats to her. I think she played some big tennis in some big moments.”

“I’m just annoyed I lost right now.” Pegula said. “Everyone is like, Congrats, amazing tournament. I’m like, Eh, whatever. (Laughter.)

“I think maybe once I decompress a little bit, I’m sure I will be a little bit more appreciative and see all of that. At some point. I should probably do that at some point.

“Yeah, it’s been kind of a crazy couple of days, so hopefully I’ll get some time after this to kind of just relax and just, you know, look back at what I’ve been able to do the last month.”

This was the fourth time during the Open Era that the second seed and sixth seed faced each other in a Women’s Singles Grand Slam final all of which were at the US Open (Margaret Court vs Nancy Richey 1969, Monica Seles vs Martina Navratilova 1991, Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff 2023).

With winning the Australian Open in January, Sabalenka has become the 5th player during Open Era to win both Women’s Singles hardcourt Grand Slams titles during the same season after Monica Seles (1991,92), Steffi Graf (1988,89), Angelique Kerber (2016) and Martina Hingis (1997). Sabalenka is the second oldest player during the Open Era to win both hard-court Women’s Singles majors during the same season after Angelique Kerber.

Despite the loss, Pegula takes confidence away with her from the tournament.

 “If I can’t take confidence from this, there’s got to be something wrong,” she said.

“So, I mean, I think I’ve taken confidence from winning a 250, from winning a 1000, from being able to win another 1000. Multiple ones now. Then to be able to be a Grand Slam finalist, I think that was kind of the last thing for me, right, was I made a lot of quarterfinals but can I make a semi, can I be a contender to actually win a Grand Slam.

“I mean, looking back, I’ve lost again to a really good player. I lost to girls that pretty much won the tournament every time. I know my level was right there. And I think maybe I handled the moment a little bit better this year, like I said before, with just having maybe a different perspective of I had a rough start to the year and I didn’t really expect to be doing this well in the hard court swing, and I was able to kind of flip that script.

“So I think when I came into here, it was almost less pressure kind of in a way, because I was just happy I was in another quarterfinal. My slam record this year was not great. So I think maybe that perspective maybe helped me through that moment, and then I was able to obviously have a great match in the semi, come from behind there, and put myself in a chance to win a Grand Slam.

“I think for sure I will take a lot of confidence from this in maybe like a hour or two, because like I said, I’m kind of annoyed. Not even annoyed losing the tournament. I think it’s more just I was looking at it at, like, I just wanted to win the match. Now there is, like, things that are just in my head that I feel I should have done better and stuff like that. But like I said, I think that will pass in a little bit.”

“Would definitely say that this is, like, it was the best moment, one of the best moments,” Sabalenka said to media.

“Like, so many things was going through my mind. The first one was that, all those tough losses in the past, and I was just, like, so proud of myself and proud of my team that no matter what, we were able to come back stronger and come back with the better tennis.

“And now finally we are having this beautiful trophy. Yeah, I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know how to describe that feeling. You’re crying, you’re laughing, you’re just, you know, you feel all these emotions at the same time. That’s the best feeling. I really wish everyone could or can experience that.”

“I faced a lot of challenges on and off the court. The difficult one was also, like, being injured and not able to play Wimbledon. It was new experience for me.

“It’s also very special place here, the US Open. I also had a lot of tough losses in the past. I was always hoping that one day I’ll be able to hold this beautiful trophy. It’s been always my dream.

“That’s why it’s very special, because no matter what, every time I was coming back stronger, and I was learning, I never gave up on this dream, and yeah, you know, it’s means a lot.”

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US Open: Fritz Beats Zverev to Reach First Major Semifinal

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(Taylor Fritz photo by Darren Carroll/USTA)

(September 3, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – American Taylor Fritz the 12th seed, achieved a long awaited milestone – to reach the semifinal of a major. He did this when he defeated fourth seed Alexander Zverev or Germany 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6 on Tuesday afternoon.

 “I came out really just feeling good, ready to play,” Fritz said. “I think in a lot of my previous quarterfinals, I came out, like, a little bit, like, nervous, but today I just felt really, like, good from the start, ready to go.

“I think maybe got more nervous as the match went on, because I felt like he was playing points a little bit tight. It almost caused me to play a little bit tight too. But, I mean, I came up with a lot of serves when I needed them. You know, played some big points well.

“Super pumped to make it into my first semi.”

It’s cool I’m in the semis,” he added. “But I very much have the mindset of, you know, the job’s not done, and I keep taking it one match at a time like I’ve been all tournament and focus on the next match ahead of me.”

“I did nothing to deserve to win,” Zverev said. “It’s as simple as that.”

“I played terrible. Just from the baseline — I mean, serving and actually returning was actually okay. From the baseline I played absolutely terrible. I don’t know.

“My backhand, I don’t remember since being on tour hitting my backhand this badly. I just don’t. I mean, I was missing shots which were in the middle of the court with no pace, and bottom of the net. Terrible. Just absolutely terrible by me.

“My forehand was okay, actually. My serve was okay. But my most reliable shot, the shot that I’m most known for, the shot that you normally wake me up at 3:00 a.m. and I would not miss was absolutely not there today, and I have no words for it, to be honest.”

Fritz awaits the winner of the night match between 20th seed Frances Tiafoe and 9th seed Grigor Dimitrov.

Fritz on the possible match-ups: “If it’s Grigor, obviously I’ll have the crowd on my side, for sure. It will be an interesting matchup. You know, we’ve played a good amount. I think I’ve played a lot of people in this tournament so far that have, I guess, good preparation for playing Grigor, someone who is, like, slicing a lot of backhands and playing it short. The first three guys I played are all slicing backhands.

“So, I don’t know, that could be interesting. He’s a very good player, and when he’s on, he’s very, very on. He’s very good.

“Foe, I mean, if it’s Foe, that’s going to be a lot of fun, and that’s going to be just electric. Yeah, I think that would be awesome for the fans, as well, to be guaranteed that one of us is going to be going to the finals.”

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US Open: Paolini Reaches First Round of 16 in NY

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Jasmine Paolini reacts after her victory during a women’s singles match at the 2024 US Open on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 in Flushing, NY. (Rhea Nall/USTA)

(August 31, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – No. 5 Jasmine Paolini defeated No. 30 Yulia Putinitseva of Kazahstan 6-3, 6-4 to reach her first-ever round of 16 at the US Open. The score not indicative of the hard-fought battle between these ladies.

The 28-year-old is the first Italian to reach the fourth round of all four majors in the same year in the “Open Era.” She joined Coco Gauff as the only women to reach at least the fourth round at everymajor in 2024.

“I think I played a really good match,” Paolini said in her news conference. “She’s a really tough player. She’s playing good this year, so it’s tough to play her.

“She defends very well, but I think I played a really solid match. I was trying to control every point, but also to be calm, to build the point with calm and maybe play one more shot each time, don’t rush during the point.

“I think I did a great job.”

Paolini hit 22 winners, most of them with her forehand. She’ll face Karolina Muchova for a place in the quarterfinals.

Last year’s semifinalist, Karolina Muchova moved intho the final 16 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Anastasia Potapova.

Since last year, Muchova has been dealing with many injuries which have put her down in the rankings.

“I’m trying every day to put some work in and get back to where I was — maybe even better,” Muchova said.

“Well, I think it’s going to be few years we played,” Muchova said of playing Paolini next. “We played last match I don’t even know. So for sure I think every week, every month, every year you are different player. Looking at her result, you can see that she really improved a lot.

“I didn’t play the slams. Roland Garros, I was following actually, and I’m a fan of hers. She did incredible job and playing finals on clay and then grass in Wimbledon. It’s just pretty inspiring. Yeah, she’s very nice girl. So, yeah, I was supporting.”

Paolini talked about Muchova in her news conference, saying that she’s a big fan of the Czech. “I’m a fan of her. She’s playing unbelievable. I really love how she plays. She can play every shot, every shot, slice, volleys, serve and volleys. She’s a very complete player, I think, very tough opponent.

“I hope we can play a really, really good match.”

“I think she’s serving better than me,” Paolini said. “She’s taller, so easier for her. But, I don’t know, I think she has a little bit different game of me because I think she has more variety. Like she slice, serve and volley. Me a little bit less. I cannot slice that much as her.

“But, you know, I don’t know what to expect. I think I play last time here against her in the qualifying in second round I think in 2018, ’19. I don’t know. So a long time ago.”

No. 6 Jessica Pegula of the US is into the 4th rd. she defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain 6-3, 6-3.

“I thought it was pretty straightforward today.” said the American. “I think I just played some solid tennis. Didn’t have to do too much or anything crazy out there.

“I felt like I was able to execute my strategy and figure things out and get it done pretty quickly.”

Pegula will play Diana Schnaider in the fourth round. She talked about playing the Russian: “Toronto I felt like I was playing really well during that whole week, so it’s tough to compare. I mean, we’re in a different city, different conditions, different situation.

“I feel like she’s definitely going to know more what to expect because that was our first time playing each other, and she’s been super match-tough this year. Had a lot of good wins. Having an amazing year and kind of has proven herself to be a top-20 player for sure.

“I’m just going to try and use what I did well the last match and hopefully it works, but I think I’m going to have to be ready as well for her to kind of adapt and maybe change a few things from the last time we played.”

Former world No. 1 and US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki made her career eight fourth round at the US Open with a win over Jessika Ponchet of France.

“First of all, I’m so happy to be through to the next round,” Wozniacki said to media. “It was tricky today, because I didn’t really know my opponent. I never met her before. She played a bit of an unorthodox tennis compared to other players. It was really difficult to read her game, so just really happy to be through. I think I kept my composure when I needed to. Yeah, able to mix up the pace and kind of go for my shots when I needed to. Just happy to be through.”

More to follow…

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US Open: Gauff Survives Svitolina Test to Reach Fourth Round

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Coco Gauff courtesy of the USTA

(August 30, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – Defending champion and No. 3 seed Coco Gauff had ro rally past No. 27 Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reahc the round of 16 at the US Open on Friday afternoon. This is the third straight year that the American has made the fourth round at the US Open.

“I feel like I lost, like, eight points in a row at the end of the first set,” Gauff said in her news conference. “I don’t really know the exact number. Probably more.

“So I knew I needed a reset at that point. Yeah, I just went and used the bathroom, changed the bottom half of my clothes, and splashed some water on my face, and felt like a new person coming out.

“Yeah, I just didn’t want to leave the court with any regrets.”

After losing the first set, Gauff won nine of next 11 games. She served for the match at 5-2 in the third, but Svitolina broke her serve, but Gauff broke back to end the match.

She is seeking to become the first woman to defend the US Open title in 10 years, last done by Serena Williams in 2014, twice defending the 2012 and 2013 titles.  

In her interview with Mary Joe Fernandez on-court after the match, Gauff said that the win means a lot to her. “I knew today was going to be a tough match, especially when I play Elina, she’s a fighter. I thought I had to play my best tennis.”

“I served much better than last time, except the last service game, overall I’m proud of what I was able to do.”

Gauff thanked the crowd for supporting her. “This is my favorite court to play on and Ashe allways brings the energy. I fully appreciate you guys.”

Gauff talked about the adjustments that she had to make after losing the first set: “I think I tried to be more agressive, especially on my forehand, and making less errors on the backhand. Iwas missing a lot of backhands in the net.”

“She (Svitolina) was agressive, hitting first balls, I think that the differnce was just me being more agressive especially on the serve.”

Gauff will play countrywoman Emma Navarro in the fourth round.

Asked about playing Navarro, Gauff said in her news conference: “With Emma, I feel like that match at Wimbledon I think I mentally just literally collapsed on the court. I was very frustrated, and she played well. That was, I think to me, the best tennis she played, like that tournament.

“Obviously, I didn’t see her first round, but I watched a little bit her second and third. I think that was like the best she played that week.

“Yeah, so I think going into this match, I have to expect her to play her best tennis, and I just need to know that I need to bring it and mentally be there from the beginning to the end because she’s going to be a tough opponent.”

Gauff is not playing doubles at the US Open this year.

 “I’m not playing it. It does change my routine. It’s nice to have an off day, a real off day.

“I probably won’t play as much anymore. My goal was to always win a doubles slam. It’s kind of one of those things where I’m just, like, I don’t know if — I’ll maybe play every now and then. I don’t know if I have the motivation to go week in and week out anymore like I was doing it.”

“Yeah, it is nice mentally to have a break in between, like, not competing and just go out and practice and work on the things. I still want to do mixed maybe once next year, here or Wimby. I feel like it could be nice to win a mixed slam to complete the cabinet, I guess.

Other seeded women on the day saw No. 7 seed and Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng of China dismissed Jule Niemeier 6-2, 6-1 on the Grandstand court in 81 minutes.

“Today the match I start really well compared to the round before,” Zheng said. “I feel I have my focus since the beginning until the end. I didn’t drop down.”

“Today my opponent, she serves really well, so I feel I found the right tactic.”

Former world No. 2 and the current 26th seed Paula Badosa of Spain survived a tight contest with qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse 4-6, 6- 1, 7-6 (8).

“The tiebreaker, ” said Badosa. “I think I almost had a heart attack there. But yeah, it was really tough match. She was playing very high level.

“I had to keep up there, so I’m really happy I accepted that moment. I fought through it. I think the tiebreak was — you never know in a tiebreak, but I think I handled the emotions and the pressure pretty well, and I’m happy I won the match.”

More to come…

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Two-Time Champion Osaka Knocks Out 10th Seed Ostapenko in First Round of the US Open

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Naomi Osaka during a women’s singles match at the 2024 US Open on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 in Flushing, NY. (Darren Carroll/USTA)

(August 27, 2024) Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, looked like she was back to the form that won her four majors when she defeated another major winner and powerful hitter in No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round of the US Open on Tuesday in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The former No. 1’s service game was on point winning 24 of her 20 first serves, hitting 9 aces against her Latvian opponent. She was 3 for 3 on break points and hit 19 winners.

Last year’s US Open quarterfinalist Ostapenko hit 21 unforced errors and hit 6 double faults.

Recipient of a wild card to enter this year’s US Open, the currently 88th ranked Osaka was off the tour and missed last year’s US Open due to maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter Shai in July.

Osaka broke serve in the eighth game of the first set and held to close it out 6-3. In the seocnd set, th four-time major winner broke serve to open the the set and broke again in the seventh game to close out the match 6-3, 6-2.

“I really respect her as a player, so I kind of knew that I had to play really well from the very first point, so I just tried to do that,” Osaka said of 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko. 

Asked by media in her news conference about how her best matches have been against highly ranked players or major champions, she said “I would definitely say I’m not sure if it’s motivation or if I feel like I have no other choice but to play well, and then it gets rid of all the expectations and all the pressure I put on myself, because I know, like, no matter what, the tennis is going to be really great tennis, even if I win or lose.

“That’s kind of my mindset whenever I play, like, seeded players or really good players.”

She spoke about all of her hard work she’s done over the past 8 months.

“I’m really glad that I played all the tournaments this year, even though the results haven’t been that great, I feel like I could draw from each of those matches.

“Over time, I know even though I lost in the quallies of Cincy, I kind of gained confidence in myself in a weird way, because for me, that was, like, the worst possible outcome of my career. Granted, I could have lost in the round before that.

“But yeah, I just, I don’t know, it’s been so much hard work, so much, like, dreams and wishes, and I hope that I can continue. As of right now, I am really happy with how I played.”

“I feel like for me, this court is my home,” Osaka said. “It gives me so much more confidence. Like, I step on the court knowing that I probably have the most wins in the field maybe. I don’t know. Please don’t — I don’t know.

“But, like, you know, having two wins here means a lot, and I think for me I’ve been struggling with confidence throughout the year, and this time now forces me to look in the mirror and say, Hey, you’ve done really well here, there’s no reason why you can’t do well again.

“I just tried to channel that today.”

Osaka caused a sensation walking on court in a unique outfit which she calls “Lolita Goth” which had several layers which whittled down to a much simpler tennis outfit.

She talked about the outfit in her news conference.

“Well, I chose the color like at least a year ago. I definitely love to be involved in everything I do, whether it’s fashion or anything else. But I feel like being able to be a part of my tennis outfits gives me, I would say, a different strength. Especially the US Open outfits, I feel like they are a little bit more flamboyant. When I was putting on my outfit today, I was, like, ah, I hope this isn’t too much.

“Because I had the tutu and then I had the bow jacket and it was green, I feel like everyone was staring at me funny. And then I put the headphones on, that was a real killer.

“I was, like, you know what, embrace this maximalist style. And then it made me feel better, another player came up to me and asked to take a picture. I hope it was a positive picture, it wasn’t, like, Oh, my God, look at her.

“Yeah, I think for me when I put on the outfit it’s almost like a super suit, so I try to channel that. “

In her post-match interview with Pam Shriver, Osaka was tearful. “I was trying not to cry when I was walking out here,” Osaka she said.

 “Honestly it’s like a combination of a lot of different things, she told media in her news conference. “I grew up here, so just seeing kids, and then remembering my daughter, but seeing kids coming and watching me play and just remembering that I was a kid, I guess a long time ago, made me very emotional.

“Then also just remembering that I came and watched Coco play her semis, and I was in the audience and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play again at this level, and just to play Ostapenko who is such a great player and win that match means a lot to me.

“Yeah, just seeing the stadium really full, it meant a lot, because I was, like, oh, I hope people come watch me play.”

She admitted to feeling stress in the beginning of the match.

“She was hitting some really good shots. I just told myself keep going and keep fighting for every point.”

“Last year I was watching Coco (Gauff) play and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again,” she said. “I didn’t know if I could. … just to win this match and just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me.” Osaka said that she told herself at match point; “let’s keep going.”

Osaka will face Karolina Muchova in the second round.

More to follow…

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