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Aryna Sabalenka solidified her status as the best hard-court player by winning her first US Open title after defeating American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in an entertaining final.
Pegula pushed Sabalenka to her limits, threatening a comeback after being a set down. However, Sabalenka kept her composure, avoiding a repeat of last year’s final loss against Coco Gauff.
En route her third Grand Slam victory, Sabalenka’s aggressive play at the net earned her 18 points from 23 attempts. After sealing victory, she celebrated with her boyfriend Georgio Frangulis and her fitness coach Jason Stacy, both significant figures in her journey.
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The Belarusian’s serve reached an impressive 119 mph, a far cry from her previous injury struggles – she had missed the Wimbledon and the Olympic Games due to a shoulder injury.
Despite Pegula’s bold forehand and resilience, Sabalenka had too many weapons in her arsenal. Her powerful groundstrokes, volleys, and improved footwork helped her control long rallies.
Sabalenka has dominated hard-court Grand Slams, winning 27 of her last 28 matches. Her powerful style and mental strength now make her the “beast of Belarus.”
Tags: Georgio Frangulis, Jason Stacy, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Belarusian, US Open, Grand Slam, hard-court, Melbourne, New York, Coco Gauff, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnews, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcsports.
