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'LITERALLY PRAYING': SABALENKA PRAYERS ANSWERED TO WIN US OPEN



World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka has cemented her status as the best female hardcourt player on the planet, downing American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win her first US Open title.


It was a topsy-turvy encounter from the outset as Sabalenka blew an early 5-2 lead in the opening set before calming the storm.


The match was heading in a seemingly routine second set outcome, but Pegula used the energy of the home crowd to her advantage to win five consecutive games after trailing 0-3.


Yet it wasn't enough to force Sabalenka to hide - rallying back to win the next four games as she dropped to the ground in joy and disbelief.


"I'm speechless right now," Sabalenka said in her ceremony speech.


"So many times I thought I so close to getting the US Open title, it's been a dream of mine and finally I get this beautiful trophy. It's been a really tough couple of weeks.


"Everything I'm thinking, I'm remembering all those tough losses here in the past. If you really work hard and you sacrifice everything for a dream, you're going to get it one day.


"In that second set I was just praying, I was literally praying."


The final was uncharted territory for Pegula who broke her unwanted streak of six quarter-final exits at a major without success.


Last year at Flushing Meadows, Sabalenka lost the final to Coco Gauff, but the 26-year-old offered a piece of advice and encouragement to Pegula.


"I know how tough it is to lose in the final, but you're showing some amazing tennis, and I'm more than sure that one day, you're going to get one," Sabalenka told Pegula.


The American will rise to a career-high world No.3 when the official rankings release, and she gave credit to her opponent while admitting her inconsistency cost her the victory.


"[I] was able to find some good tennis, just wasn’t quite able to sustain it," Pegula said.


"She played some big tennis in big moments. She’s super powerful. Goes for her shots. She’s definitely not going to give you anything.


"I was happy I was able to fight back and give myself a chance, but in the end it wasn’t enough."


The Grand Slam title is Sabalenka's first major trophy outside of Melbourne Park having claimed the Australian Open on back-to-back occasions.

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