Ripping a second serve return, Sabalenka rattled Pegula into a 15-40 deficit. Pegula went on to save four set points but Sabalenka kept pressing and earned a fifth off an ill-timed double fault. As the clock struck one hour, Sabalenka secured the set off a deftly-struck drop shot.
As if a nod to the closeness of the first set, Sabalenka began the second with an ace that kissed the T and opened with a strong hold. She won a fourth straight game when Pegula double faulted down break point and consolidated with an ace to close in on the title.
With the match slipping away, Pegula fended off a break point to avoid a double break. Once on the board, Pegula put the pressure straight back on Sabalenka, reeling off five straight games to turn the match on its head.
Suddenly facing the prospect of a deciding set, Sabalenka locked down and won four straight games from 3-5 down, breaking Pegula twice to win her first US Open title in just under two hours.
