Aryna Sabalenka will play for the US Open title for the third year in a row. She qualified for the final after defeating Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a repeat of last year's final. The champion came from a set down but responded with flying colors to record her 13th straight US Open victory.

This will be Sabalenka's seventh Grand Slam final and her fourth in her last five appearances. The final obstacle standing between her and the title is Amanda Anisimova, who eliminated Naomi Osaka.

In the sixth game of the first set, Pegula saved two break points, but the Belarusian's tenacity paid off and she took a 4-2 lead. The American responded immediately. She returned the break and took her serve to level the score at 4-4. A mistake by Sabalenka gave Pegula another break, after which she won her own service game and the first set 6-4.

This seemed to infuriate Sabalenka, who took the first three games of the second half and managed to level the match. A break in the opening game of the third set helped the world No. 1 lead 2-0. Pegula fought hard until the end, but the Belarusian tennis player was able to end the match on her third match point.

Anisimova dramatically prevailed over Naomi Osaka 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3. The world No. 9 made up for a set deficit, and at the end missed two consecutive match points, but still will play for the title in front of her home crowd on Saturday.

When the rankings are next updated, the New Jersey-born tennis player will set a record ranking, climbing to fourth place. She also became the first tennis player to defeat Osaka in a Grand Slam semifinal. | BGNES