Aryna Sabalenka smiles as American crowd gets it right after previous tennis experience
Sabalenka gets the respect she believes every player deserves
A ryna Sabalenka has a strong character. In tense moments, she stands her ground and does not back down. Her most explosive moments sometimes take the spotlight, but it is also worth recognizing when she shows a different side, especially when she acknowledges a crowd for creating an atmosphere where she can simply play tennis.
Sabalenka faced local favorite Jessica Pegula, with the stadium hoping to see the first American woman to reach this semifinal advance to the final. The atmosphere could have worked in Pegula’s favor, and Sabalenka knew the crowd would likely support the American . Still, that did not affect her concentration.
Sabalenka needed this win
The Belarusian dominated Pegula in New York and is now one victory away from a third straight US Open title, just one day after losing the WTA No. 1 ranking to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina . After a difficult stretch, she needed some better news.
The convincing victory took just 1 hour and 20 minutes and further confirmed Sabalenka’s dominance over the American. She improved her head-to-head record against Pegula to 10-4 and eliminated her from the New York tournament for the third consecutive time.
After the match, Sabalenka took a moment to recognize the atmosphere inside the arena . The US Open crowd has faced criticism after some influencers and spectators have drawn attention for crossing the line of tennis etiquette. This time, however, Sabalenka thanked the fans for the respect they showed her despite supporting the home player.
The crowd earned Sabalenka’s praise
Sabalenka acknowledged that she knew the fans wanted Pegula to win, but said their respect meant a lot to her. She was especially grateful that they allowed her to play her best tennis despite not being the favorite on the night. For Sabalenka, the crowd handled the occasion well, and she made sure to let them know.
The two-time defending champion will now head into Saturday’s final with the chance to strengthen her place in US Open history. Sabalenka is seeking her third consecutive title in New York , a feat achieved by only two women in the Open Era: Chris Evert, who won four straight titles from 1975 to 1978, and Serena Williams, who completed a three-peat from 2012 to 2014.
Sabalenka will have one more match to complete the run. And after the atmosphere she experienced against Pegula, the crowd will be expected to rise to the occasion once again.
