Sabalenka expecting a “great battle” against Pegula
You wouldn’t blame Sabalenka for coming into the US Open final with a degree of confidence.
The Belarusian is on an 11-match win streak, one of which was against her upcoming opponent in straight sets. Still, she is proceeding with caution ahead of her clash against Pegula on Saturday in New York, and is well aware of the form she’s in.
“She’s playing really incredible tennis,” Sabalenka declared in her post-match press conference after beating Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the US Open semi-finals.
“She's playing her best tennis, I would say, and feels like she's back on track,” she continued. “I mean, she won the tournament, then she made the final, then she's here, another final. So she's in incredible shape.
“We had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult, tight matches. We played recently in Cincinnati. Was really tough match, even though I closed the match in two sets, but still it wasn't that easy.
“It's going to be another great battle against her.”
Pegula has confidence in her own game
Pegula also reflected on the pair’s upcoming clash, after defeating Karolina Muchova in three sets on Thursday.
“Obviously she's, you know, a really great hard court player, if not one of the best in the world, but I think I'm also a really good hard court player,” she said.
“I think I know that I can have a game that can possibly frustrate her. I feel like in the past I just have to be aggressive, I have to get her moving, serve smart, and try and put some pressure on her serve.
“If there's something in the match that maybe is working or not working, then I can figure those things out.”
Pegula struggled to handle Sabalenka’s serve in their recent meeting in Cincinnati. The American won just three points on Sabalenka’s first serve across the entire match, and nine points overall on the world No 2’s serve.
“Cincinnati, she served unbelievable, and I felt like I still had chances in that match,” Pegula shared.
“So hopefully she doesn't serve that good Saturday. Maybe a little bit less would be nice.”
Bookmakers favouring Sabalenka to win third major
Despite Pegula’s confidence, Australian betting sites have Sabalenka as a heavy favourite to win the US Open final. Bookmaker BoomBet has the Belarusian at just 1.30 to prevail, while Pegula’s odds sit around 3.40.
The gap in experience at this level is a big contributor to these odds being so skewed.
Sabalenka is contested her fourth Grand Slam final, having won two major titles in Australia and falling short at the US Open this time last year. Pegula, on the other hand, had never progressed beyond a Grand Slam quarter-final until this week.
Sabalenka also has the upper hand in the pair’s head-to-head, leading 5-2.
Pegula will have the American crowd behind her, however, and has won 15 of her last 16 matches. If ever she is to win a maiden Grand Slam, now is the time.
