Sabalenka and Pegula arrived in New York as the 2 most in-form gamers, with every having gained a WTA 1,000 event final month.
Pegula gave the impression to be brimming with confidence as she began aggressively and stunned Sabalenka by placing the primary blow early within the opening set.
However Sabalenka broke again instantly earlier than powering her method by way of the following three video games.
The 2-time Australian Open winner faltered, nonetheless, when attempting to serve out the set and Pegula put a finger to her ear, demanding extra noise from an already-raucous crowd, as she refound her rhythm to degree the opener at 5-5.
The pair grew annoyed as the primary set got here to a crescendo, with each hitting their racquets angrily off the ground earlier than Sabalenka – after lacking 4 set factors – closed it out on the fifth time of asking.
Eager to keep away from a repeat of final yr’s remaining, which she misplaced after successful the opening set, Sabalenka steamrolled by way of the primary three video games of the second set.
However roared on by her residence crowd, Pegula battled her method again, breaking twice to take a 5-3 lead earlier than the big-hitting Sabalenka slammed on the brakes.
