(September 5, 2024) FLUSHING, NY – No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is back in the US Open final for a second straight year. The Belarusian stopped No. 13 Emma Navarro of the US 6-3, 7-6 on Thursday night.
“I was like, ‘OK, Aryna, you have to stay focused. Stay in your thoughts. Focus on yourself,’” Sabalenka said on-court after the match. “And, yeah, I was thinking a lot.”
“Now you’re cheering for me – wow – it’s a bit late.”
“Even though you guys were supporting her I had the goosebumps,” she said to the crowd. “She’s such a great player, really tough opponent.”
“I’m ready to face whoever,” Sabalenka said. “Lesson from last year learned. I really hope I’m going to do a little bit better than I did last year.”
Sabalenka who has won the past two Australian Opens, lost last year’s US Open final to Coco Gauff.
“It was a really amazing experience being out there on Ashe playing an opponent like her,” Navarro said. “Obviously it’s disappointing to not be able to get the win today, and it looked like, you know, I kind of got my teeth into it there at the end of the second set and I felt I could definitely push it to a third. Wasn’t able to do so.
“But, you know, it was an incredible experience and amazing atmosphere. You know, she played really good when it came down to the wire, and, you know, I didn’t play as well.
“Yeah, I hope to be back, for sure.”
“That was very difficult match, especially at the end of the second set I got a little emotional and had this little flashback on last year final, meaning the crowd atmosphere,” Sabalenka said,
“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.”
No. 6 Jessica Pegula rallied from a set and a break down to win 12 of the last 16 games to beat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The Sabalenka – Pegula final will be a rematch of the Cincinnati Open final from last month.
“We had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult, tight matches,” sabalenka said of her next opponent. “She playing really incredible tennis. We played recently in Cincinnati. Was really 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. I mean, she won the tournament, then she made the final, then she’s here, a step away from another final. So she’s in incredible shape. It’s going to be another great battle against her.
“Yeah, cannot way to play against her.”
“That was quite the match,Pegula said. “Obviously happy to be here sitting saying that I turned it around, but obviously it was looking a little rough there for a while. But somehow I found a way and was actually able to play some really good tennis and keep that momentum, you know, a lot through that third set and close it out.
“Yeah, I thought in the third we had some really good tennis, end of the second and into the third. Just happy with the way I was able to compete.”
Muchova said: “Very tough match. I felt like I started pretty good. I felt like I played in flow, like everything was going in the court. Also felt like she was a little nervous.
“Yeah, I think I started great the first set, but was going actually kind of easy, and I knew that it’s not going to go like that all the time. So I tried to still be there and move my legs and keep the tempo, but then one point when I had a breakpoint for 3-Love, the volley, I missed that one. I felt like it kind of changed and she picked it up, and she start to play really solid. I missed again few points, but then, it kind of turned around. It was tough to make point then against her. She was everywhere. Didn’t do many mistakes.
“Yeah, she played really great, so credits to her.”
On playing Sabalenka:”Yeah. Well, obviously she’s, you know, a really great hard court player, if not one of the best in the world, but I think I’m also a really good hard court player. Cincinnati, she served unbelievable, and I felt like I still had chances in that match.
“So hopefully she doesn’t serve that good Saturday. Maybe a little bit less would be nice (smiling).
“But I think I know that I can have a game that can possibly frustrate her. I feel like in the past I just, you know, have to be aggressive, I have to get her moving, serve smart, and try and put some pressure on her serve.
“You know, play my game. Which is kind of what I do already. I try to do those things. You know, play within myself, pick my spots, you know, I want to say, like, aggressive, but, you know, not overdo it. I don’t know. Just how I kind of play. Hopefully I’m able to execute that, and if there’s something in the match that maybe is working or not working, then I can figure those things out.
“But, you know, I’m just going to try and play my game Saturday really.”
“It’s amazing,” Pegula said. “It’s a childhood dream. It’s what I wanted when I was a kid. It’s a lot of work, a lot of hard work put in. You couldn’t even imagine how much goes into it.
“It would mean the world to me obviously. I’m just happy to be in a final, but obviously I come here to want to win the title. You know, if you would have told me at the beginning of the year I’d be in the finals of the US Open, I would have laughed so hard, because that just was where my head was, was not thinking that I would be here.
“So to be able to overcome all those challenges and say that I get a chance at the title Saturday is what we play for as players, let alone being able to do that in my home country here, in my home slam. It’s perfect, really.”
More to follow…
