Sun Sep 08 01:02:42 UTC 2024: ## Sabalenka Wins US Open Title, Dedicate Victory to Family
**NEW YORK, September 8, 2024** – Aryna Sabalenka captured her third Grand Slam title and first US Open crown, defeating Jessica Pegula in a hard-fought final, 7-5, 7-5. The Belarusian world number two dedicated her victory to her family, acknowledging their unwavering support throughout a year of personal tragedy.
Sabalenka’s triumph comes after a challenging period marked by the loss of her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, in March. The ice hockey star died from apparent suicide at age 42. This was Sabalenka’s first Grand Slam win since the tragedy. She also missed Wimbledon due to injury.
“After I lost my father, it has always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis,” the 26-year-old said, referencing the passing of her father Sergiy from meningitis in 2019. “Every time I see my name on that trophy, I’m so proud of myself, I’m proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream and that they were doing everything they could to keep me going.”
Sabalenka dominated the match with her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, totaling 40 winners and 36 aces. The Belarusian also boasted the third fastest serve of the tournament at 191.5 km/h.
Pegula, meanwhile, faced her own challenges this year, including a rib injury that forced her to miss the French Open. The American rebounded with a strong summer hard court season, reaching the US Open final for the first time.
“I had a rough start to the year and I didn’t really expect to be doing this well in the hard court swing,” Pegula said. “I will take a lot of confidence from this.”
Sabalenka’s victory solidifies her position as a top contender in women’s tennis, while Pegula’s run to the final proves her growing strength and potential for future Grand Slam success.
First Piper 