Sabalenka doesn't understand script changes: triumphant hurricane and into the US Open final

In New York, Aryna Sabalenka has a passion: to repeat the scripts she knows so well year after year. Why change what works, the Belarusian might think: if she reaches the last Grand Slam of the season with the "need" to summon her best tennis and rectify past misfortunes with a Major title, she knows the formula to achieve it well, a formula that involves going back to what has always worked for her. Overwhelming tennis, top-notch, with total dominance of the short points, the kryptonite for a Jessica Pegula who falls short once again. The world number one (until next Monday) is already the first finalist of the 2026 US Open (7-5, 6-2).

There was enormous curiosity to see how the two sides of the same coin would behave. Jessica Pegula had rarely arrived in New York as fit as she did this time, with the feeling that all the factors were aligning to finally overcome Aryna's ultimate challenge on her home turf; for her part, the Belarusian had expertly salvaged one of those matches that give you an incredible boost of confidence against Noskova, but... would it be enough to shake off the inconsistency seen in Canada and Cincinnati? Had the best Aryna returned?

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How Sabalenka Solved Doubts to Qualify for the 2026 US Open Final

There are aspects of the match that lead us to answer that question with a resounding yes. The first and foremost, evident from the very beginning, is the absurd number of short points played: the duel was at a lethal pace, with very deep rallies and a constant eagerness to get on top of the ball and win, almost, by crushing. Who better than Aryna in that regard?

A style that is even more effective when maintained under pressure, in crucial points. After half an hour of testing the waters, with both players sizing each other up and letting their initial shots make the difference, some errors saw the Belarusian down break point... and there, with a plus one serve that ended with a winning forehand, Aryna laid the first stone to resemble her from a couple of seasons ago, that unstoppable machine that turns into a block of ice in moments of pressure.

Best Aryna Sabalenka performance of the year by a mile.

New York is now clearly her preferred hunting ground, and she might cash in once again on Saturday! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/2DvCJ6Lvjk

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) September 11, 2026

Sabalenka saved that game, clarified her ideas, and seized the only window of opportunity that Pegula offered. Once again Jessica found herself a set down, and the feeling was one of exhaustion: even playing on her opponent's turf, she was unable to gain an advantage. Perhaps Jessie didn’t know how to or couldn’t steer the duel, turned into a total shootout, towards a more comfortable zone for her style: it was always played at Sabalenka's pace, for better or worse.

In the second set, Aryna felt the moral boost from the first, transforming her tennis into an all-terrain game capable of adapting to all challenges. She even frustrated Pegula, feigning to throw her racket after an astounding reflex defense, a decisive blow that exemplified that the Belarusian was at a higher level that night. With that confidence, she will face a final, against Gauff or Rybakina, perhaps looking with the weight of being number one lifted off her shoulders, with the conviction of someone who wins high-stakes matches and the overwhelming feeling that a player of this caliber cannot end her season without a major title. The lingering disappointment will know its resolution next Saturday... as Aryna steps into a new Grand Slam final.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka no entiende de cambios de guion: huracán triunfal y a la final del US Open