DEFENDING CHAMPION SABALENKA IS FIRST US OPEN FINALIST

In the US Open women's singles semifinals, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka faced off against American contender Jessica Pegula. In a highly anticipated match that lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes, Sabalenka secured her spot as the first finalist by defeating her opponent 2-0 with sets of 7-5 and 6-2. The first set, lasting 43 minutes, witnessed a fierce battle between the two athletes. Sabalenka, utilizing her powerful baseline strokes and aggressive playstyle, managed to edge out Pegula 7-5 to gain a crucial psychological advantage. In the second set, the Belarusian star completely dominated the court. Wrapping up the set in just 37 minutes with a commanding 6-2 score, Sabalenka sealed the victory. The match statistics clearly highlighted Sabalenka's offensive superiority. She finished the match with an impressive 29 winners, vastly outshining Pegula's 12. Although Pegula won 80% of her first-serve points, she struggled immensely on her second serve, winning only 26% of those points. Sabalenka capitalized on this vulnerability by converting 3 break points. Despite committing 22 unforced errors, the defending champion never compromised her aggressive approach. With this magnificent victory, Sabalenka once again proved her strong determination to defend her crown at Flushing Meadows, stepping onto the final stage with immense confidence and momentum.

IMAGE: GULF NEWS