Ayrna Sabalenka is one win away from defending her maiden US Open title. On Thursday night, the 27-year-old Belarusian overcame an unplanned layoff and a scratchy opening set to dismiss familiar foe Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first women’s semi-final inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The victory, Sabalenka’s third-straight in the US Open semis, doesn’t just set her up to claim her first grand slam title this season. With a successful defense on Saturday, she would become the first player to repeat as women’s champion at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams’s run of titles from 2012 through to 2014.
