Pegula seeks revenge against Sabalenka as Osaka meets Anisimova in U.S. Open semis
NEW YORK: Revenge will be at the forefront of Jessica Pegula’s mind when she faces world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open semi-finals on Thursday, a rematch of last year’s final at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka advanced after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew injured and is chasing her sixth consecutive hardcourt Grand Slam final. The Belarusian has reached the semi-finals at all four majors this year but is still searching for her first title of 2024, having fallen short in Melbourne, Paris, and Wimbledon.
Pegula, meanwhile, arrives in peak form. Her 6–3 6–3 victory over Barbora Krejcikova made her the first American woman since Serena Williams (2011–14) to reach consecutive U.S. Open semi-finals without dropping a set. The Buffalo native has yet to face a top-50 opponent this tournament but now confronts her toughest challenge in Sabalenka, who leads their head-to-head 7–2 and has denied her in their last three meetings on North American hard courts.
“I think it would be cool to get revenge, obviously,” Pegula said. “Last year I walked off court thinking about everything I could have done better, but now I see how incredible that run really was. I’m playing the best player in the world, and that’s exciting.”
In the other semi-final, Naomi Osaka takes on Amanda Anisimova. The American has already tasted revenge at this year’s Open, stunning world number two Iga Swiatek 6–4 6–3, two months after being handed a double-bagel defeat by the Pole in the Wimbledon final.
With storylines of redemption and resilience, both semi-finals promise high drama on the road to the 2025 U.S. Open final.
