‘I Was So Desperate’ – Aryna Sabalenka Makes Feelings Clear After Beating Jessica Pegula To Reach US Open Final
Aryna Sabalenka has once again asserted her dominance at the US Open, triumphing over Jessica Pegula in a blockbuster semifinal showdown to reach her fourth consecutive final in New York. Following her impressive win, Sabalenka opened up about her mindset and shared a heartfelt message for the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
What Aryna Sabalenka Said After Beating Jessica Pegula at the US Open
Despite suffering early exits at the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, No. 1 seed Sabalenka has put all concerns about her form to rest with a stellar campaign at the US Open.
After surviving a tough battle against Linda Nosková in the quarterfinals, the four-time Grand Slam champion delivered a commanding performance against No. 3 seed Pegula.
Sabalenka, who had triumphed over Pegula in New York for two straight years, kept the trend alive by securing a 7-5, 6-2 victory in their semifinal clash. The Belarusian will be on the hunt for her third consecutive US Open title when she takes the court for the final on Saturday, Sept. 12.
During her on-court interview, Sabalenka expressed satisfaction with the high level of play she produced during the match. She acknowledged that the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium was rooting for the home favorite Pegula to pull off the win, but thanked the spectators for remaining very respectful toward her.
“No complaints. I’m just super happy that I was able to pull out such tennis. Last match I played against I played against Jessica, it was almost impossible for me to get the win. So, I’m super happy that I was able to play such tennis in front of you all,” Sabalenka said.
“Thank you for the atmosphere and honestly guys, you’re the best. Your respect to me is priceless and I really appreciate that. I know that you wanted her to win. It’s obvious, but thank you for being so respectful to me. Thank you. Love you guys,” she added.
The four-time Grand Slam champion also opened up about being “desperate” for the win, saying, “I don’t know. I was so desperate to [get] the win. I wanted it badly and I was just trying to focus on myself and then guys look at my box. I couldn’t fail in front of all of those legends, beautiful girls, the best people and my team, of course. I love you guys.”
Sabalenka further shed light on the routine she follows during her US Open campaign, sharing an amusing anecdote about how she made sure to stick to it before the semifinal clash.
“I do. I have my favorite breakfast. I have my dinner that has to be done. Even like last night, Polo Bar, they had private event, but just because I have my ritual, they really squeezed me in. I felt like I really broke into someone else’s party. But thank you. Thank you Polo Bar. Thank you Nelly for squeezing us in. My routine really means a lot to me,” she said.
Aryna Sabalenka is set for a daunting challenge in the US Open final, with Coco Gauff or Elena Rybakina looming as her opponent. Sabalenka has experienced heartbreaking losses to both players in Grand Slam finals, falling short against Rybakina in this year’s Australian Open and losing to Gauff in the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open finals.
