World · World News Bureau
Sabalenka advances to US Open final, will face rival Rybakina
Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the US Open final with a dominant victory over Jessica Pegula, setting up a title clash against Elena Rybakina, the player who recently displaced her from the world rankings.
LSN World News ·
Sabalenka swept past American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in Thursday's semifinal, advancing to the championship match at Flushing Meadows. The Belarusian player's commanding performance on the hard court saw her control the match from start to finish against the fifth-seeded Pegula.
The final will pit Sabalenka against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who has eclipsed the Belarusian as the world's top-ranked player. The two have emerged as rivals at the sport's highest level, with their upcoming encounter promising to be a marquee matchup for the year's final major championship.
Sabalenka's victory marks her return to a Grand Slam final following her triumph at the Australian Open earlier in the year. Her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play proved too much for Pegula, who struggled to find her rhythm throughout the contest.
The US Open final will be contested on Saturday, with both finalists seeking to claim the coveted title and the accompanying ranking points that will shape the latter part of the professional tennis season.