“I was getting ready for the third set” – Sabalenka on Pegula’s US Open final comeback
Pegula won five straight games and came within points of winning the third set
Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
At 7-5, 3-0, 40-30, Aryna Sabalenka looked to be about five minutes away from winning her third Grand Slam title at the US Open against Jessica Pegula on Saturday afternoon in New York.
That is, until Pegula launched a remarkable comeback, winning five games on the bounce against the world No 2 to push the women’s final to the brink of a deciding set.
Speaking in her post-match press conference, Sabalenka has confessed that her mind was already in the third set in New York.
“I was getting ready for the third set,” said Sabalenka, who won in straight sets for the second time in three weeks against Pegula.
“I mean, that was really incredible tennis from her. I had my opportunities and at 3-1 I was serving and then I had a breakpoint and 3-Love, but, you know, she come up with winners, with really aggressive tennis.
“Just it felt like one second and it’s 3-5, and I’m serving, I was, like, Wow, that’s crazy level from her.
“In that moment I just told myself, okay, just try to hold your serve. At least, like, you’ll be confident on your serve in the third set, and then I held my serve. I put so much pressure on her on that serving game at 5-4, and I’m really glad I was able to broke her back.”
Sabalenka went on to win the match 7-5, 7-5 and become just the fifth woman to win both the Australian Open and US Open in the same year.
How the 2023 US Open final helped Sabalenka
Sabalenka went on to explain that she drew encouragement from last year’s US Open final, where Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to beat her in three sets.
“I had a lot of tough lessons here, the US Open, very difficult one, I would say, especially the last year.
“Honestly, today I just keep reminding myself that this is the US Open final, of course she’s going to fight really hard for it and it’s not going to be easy, and I have to work really hard to get it.
“In those tough moments, I was just, you know, like, trying to stay strong and trying to remind myself that I have been through a lot and I’m strong enough to hold under this pressure.”
She also detailed her psychology when it comes to big moments like the ones she faced against Pegula in the final.
“I know that I have to go for it,” Sabalenka declared.
“That’s the only way it works for me, because every time I’m trying to play safer and play, like, be aware of these key moments. Every time I stop my arms and the ball flies in the stands.
“So, a long time ago I decided for myself in those important moments I just have to go for it, I have to swing. If I’m going to, like, swing till the end without stopping my arms, I know the ball is going to go in, so that’s, like, that’s the only option for me.”
Sabalenka has now won 27 of her last 28 matches in hard court majors, and will remain world No 2 on Monday – though, she closes the gap on the top-ranked Iga Swiatek.
