Aryna Sabalenka’s bid to repeat as U.S. Open champion is one win away from coming to fruition. 

Overcoming a first-set deficit against the very opponent she took down for the title last year in Flushing, Sabalenka powered through to take a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula on Thursday night inside an enclosed Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

The Belarusian is on the hunt to become the first woman to successfully defend her title here since Serena Williams won three in a row from 2012-2014. 

Amanda Anisimova will be waiting for her on Saturday. 

“I think I really played great tennis,” Sabalenka said after the match. “I think I handled that pressure really well. I’m super proud of this win.” 

Despite enjoying 42 consecutive weeks at the tippy top of the rankings, Sabalenka is still searching for her first major title this season. She finished second in Melbourne and Paris, as well as the semifinals at Wimbledon, but has yet to put on a Grand Slam crown since she did so here this time last year. 

After breaking Pegula with a blistering forehand to go up 4-2 in the first set, Sabalenka lost some steam and allowed the American to waltz right back into it. 

Sabalenka double-faulted to get broken in the seventh game before a strong service game from Pegula evened the set at four-all. 

Smacking the ball away in frustration as she was broken to fall behind 5-4, Sabalenka let the first set slip through her fingers. 

“I thought I played some really good points to win the first,” Pegula said. “She upped her level, started serving a lot better in the second. Then I felt like it was really even in the third. There wasn’t that much difference. I felt like we were both serving pretty well. She came up with some ridiculous shots, like, on breakpoint. 

“I didn’t feel like I did much wrong. So, yeah, it seemed like the level was really high, and we were pushing each other every single game.” 

The defending U.S. Open champion, however, was a force at the start of each of the next two sets. 

She jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set, as well as a 3-1 lead in the third. 

Pegula simply could not match the power with which Sabalenka was playing, no matter how well-placed her long balls were. 

Sabalenka ultimately finished with 43 winners against 27 unforced errors compared to Pegula’s 21 winners and 15 unforced errors. 

It was still some of the better tennis Pegula has played against Sabalenka, who had to save two break points to hold in the sixth game and take a pivotal 4-2 lead in the third set. Pegula never let Sabalenka relax in the deciding set, but the latter finally converted on her third match point. 

“It’s going to feel amazing, you know ,” Sabalenka said of the possibility of winning again. “I’m super excited to give myself another opportunity, another final. If I’ll be able to hold that trophy, it’s going to mean a lot for me. I’ll be just the happiest person on earth probably.” 

Each of the past eight Pegula-Sabalenka matches ended in straight sets, with the latter holding a 7-1 edge entering Thursday night. 

The world No. 1, however, has won at least one set in a staggering 105 consecutive Grand Slam matches. 

She hasn’t missed a Grand Slam final on hard courts since 2022, either. 

Becoming a back-to-back U.S. Open champion would just be another feat for the Tigress. 

It is the Concrete Jungle after all.