US Open: Sabalenkova emulates Serena Williams and storms into fourth straight final

Aryna Sabalenka is once again the last woman standing at Flushing Meadows. The defending champion defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the 2026 US Open semifinals to reach her fourth straight final, joining an elite club of players who have dominated New York year after year.

Sabalenka’s latest race echoes Serena Williams’ remarkable reign at the US Open. Williams reached four consecutive finals between 2011 and 2014, winning three titles, and Sabalenka now has a chance to match another piece of that legacy by completing a hat-trick at the New York Championships.

The Belarusian overcame an early challenge from Pegula before taking control, hitting seven aces and 29 winners in an 80-minute masterclass. More importantly, she has once again found her way through the pressure that comes with being the player to beat.

Sabalenkova is now one win away from a piece of US Open history.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

11 Sep 2026 06:48 IST