Sabalenka finally lifts US Open trophy

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka secured her long-awaited victory at the US Open by defeating American sixth seed Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the women’s final on Saturday.

After several near misses, Sabalenka finally lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows, one year after falling short in the final. Twice before, she reached the semi-finals, but this time she overcame Pegula despite the overwhelming support for the American at Arthur Ashe Stadium, breaking Pegula in the final game to claim the title.

Sabalenka expressed her relief and joy at finally winning the US Open, saying, "So many times I thought I was so close to getting the US Open title. Finally, I get this beautiful trophy." The second seed fought back from a breakdown in both sets to achieve victory, collapsing onto the court in celebration.

For Pegula, 30, this was her first appearance in a major final after years of effort. She arrived in New York in strong form, having won the Toronto title, but despite the fervent backing of the New York crowd, she could not withstand Sabalenka's power.

Sabalenka’s journey to the top in New York exemplified resilience and determination. Known for her tiger tattoo on her arm, which symbolises her fighting spirit, she overcame several setbacks this year to emerge victorious. Despite retaining her Australian Open title earlier in the year, Sabalenka suffered a back injury in Rome and later battled illness during the quarter-finals of the French Open. A shoulder injury also forced her to miss Wimbledon.

Nevertheless, the world number two roared back into form, using her signature tiger tattoo as a personal emblem. She won the Cincinnati tune-up event before heading to the US Open, where she dropped only one set en route to the final. This year’s victory marks Sabalenka’s redemption after finishing runner-up the previous year, and following two prior semi-final appearances.

Reflecting on her achievement, Sabalenka said, "I faced a lot of challenges on and off the court. That's why it's very special because, no matter what, I kept coming back stronger and learning from each experience. I never gave up on this dream, and it means so much to finally win."

Sabalenka’s tiger tattoo has become iconic among her fans. One young fan captured attention in the second round by sporting a temporary tiger tattoo and a matching outfit, a tribute to the Belarusian star.

In the final, Sabalenka's performance coach, Jason Stacy, also displayed a tiger tattoo on his forehead, fulfilling a promise he made if she reached the final. After winning, Sabalenka playfully slapped the tattoo on Stacy's head in celebration.

"In Washington, there is this girl who is a big fan of mine. She always comes up with cool things related to my name," Sabalenka explained. "She brought these temporary tattoos, and Jason promised that if I made it to the finals, he'd put it on his forehead."

Sabalenka and her team are no strangers to quirky rituals. Before her successful Australian Open defence, she began signing Stacy’s bald head with a marker pen as part of a pre-match superstition. Now, with the tiger tattoo added to their routine, Sabalenka said, "We always come up with something new. It started with the signature, and now it’s the tiger tattoo. I’m curious to see what we’ll think of next."