PIX: Sabalenka beats Pegula to win US Open women's crown

Images from the US Open women's singles final between Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula of the United States, at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Saturday.

IMAGE: Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka celebrates with the trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States in the US Open women's singles final at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Saturday. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus beat American sixth seed Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the final to win the women's singles crown at the US Open on Saturday.

It was the second seeded Sabalenka's third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open twice.

Sabalenka blocked out the wild cheers for the home hope on Arthur Ashe Stadium to break Pegula in the final game and win her first title at Flushing Meadows.

IMAGE: Aryna Sabalenka waves to the crowd after clinching victory. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

A year after coming up short in the final, the second seed fought back from a break down in both sets to claim victory and fell to the court in her moment of triumph.

The 30-year-old Pegula had waited a long time to reach her first major final but could not match her opponent’s raw power despite the noisy backing of the New York crowd.

The roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium was closed due to heavy rain and the players traded breaks twice as they settled into the stormy affair in front of a celebrity-packed house.

IMAGE: Jessica Pegula reacts after hitting the ball wide. Photograph: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/Reuters

Sabalenka held her serve through a four-deuce 11th game and fought through a spine-tingling 12th, mixing precision at the net with her usual power from the baseline before breaking her opponent on the fifth set point.

IMAGE: Aryna Sabalenka kicks a ball in frustration after missing an easy return. Photograph: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/Reuters

Pegula struggled with her rackets throughout the match, complaining to her coaches as she seemed unable to find the right tension on her strings, and it looked as though she would not put up a fight in the second set when Sabalenka went 3-0 up.

But the American found another level and brought the fans to their feet when she won the next five games in a furious fight back.

IMAGE: Aryna Sabalenka hits a forehand. Photograph: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/Reuters

Sabalenka levelled when she sent over a forehand winner that just kissed the line on break point in the 10th game and sought to bring a swift end to the contest, holding serve and then applying pressure from the baseline in the final game.

The tears flowed immediately for Sabalenka as she claimed her third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open twice, and she high-fived fans as she ran up the stands to share a joyful celebration with her team.

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