Sabalenka Targets Historic US Open Three-Peat as Pegula Stands in Her Way

Posted : 10 September 2026

Aryna Sabalenka is one victory away from another US Open final as she prepares to face Jessica Pegula in a highly anticipated semifinal at Flushing Meadows. The top seed is bidding to win the tournament for a third consecutive year, while Pegula is seeking her first Grand Slam title.

The matchup continues a rivalry that has become a regular feature of the US Open. Sabalenka has beaten Pegula in both of their previous meetings in New York, winning the 2024 final before overcoming the American in last year's semifinals. Sabalenka also holds a 9-4 advantage in their overall head-to-head record.

Pegula, however, enters the latest meeting with renewed confidence. The 32-year-old has beaten Sabalenka once this season, winning their semifinal encounter in Berlin, and has reached the US Open semifinals for a third consecutive year. She now hopes to turn her recent success against the Belarusian into a breakthrough on the Grand Slam stage.

For Sabalenka, the stakes are particularly significant. A victory would move her into the final and keep alive her bid to become only the third woman to win three straight US Open singles titles, joining Chris Evert and Serena Williams.

The world No. 1 has already seen the race for the top ranking disappear as a storyline after Elena Rybakina secured the No. 1 position by reaching the semifinals. Sabalenka can now concentrate entirely on defending her crown and extending her remarkable run in New York.

The other semifinal pits second seed Rybakina against fourth seed Coco Gauff. Rybakina became the new world No. 1 after defeating Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, while Gauff fought back from a set down against Mirra Andreeva and saved two match points before completing a dramatic three-set victory.

Rybakina and Gauff have split their previous meetings, with Gauff holding a narrow advantage. Their most recent clash went Rybakina's way in the Toronto semifinals last month, adding another layer of intrigue to their meeting in New York.

The 2026 US Open semifinals are also historic because all four top women's seeds have reached the final four. It is the first time this has happened at the US Open since 1975, setting up a rare showdown between Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula and Gauff.

For Pegula, the challenge is clear: find a way to overcome Sabalenka on the biggest stage after falling short against her in New York twice before. For Sabalenka, the mission is even bigger — another victory would take her one step closer to a historic third consecutive US Open championship.

Sabalenka Targets Historic US Open Three-Peat as Pegula Stands in Her Way

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