Jessica Pegula’s quest for a first major title comes to an epic crescendo Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The American has already enjoyed quite the US Open thus far, emerging out of the knockout stages of a major tournament and into a final for the first time in her professional career. The No. 6 player in the world even secured a stunning upset, outgunning World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets in the quarterfinals.
That doesn’t mean the championship match will be easier for Pegula — one of the United States’ premier women’s tennis players in the post-Serena Williams era. She’ll duel with World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time major champion who only year ago had a chance to hoist a third in Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka fell in three sets to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final. But she took the first set with relative ease and looked poised for a potential title of her own until a second-set capitulation gave the then-teenager an opening.
Sabalenka has plenty of experience deep into the competition. She has four straight trips to the US Open semifinal, the best stretch among WTA players since Serena Williams made six straight from 2011-2016.
She’s also had Pegula’s number as of late, vanquishing the American in five of their seven meetings.
None have happened in front of a distinctly pro-Pegula New York crowd, however. Given her struggles this time last year, such an environment could make a difference.
MORE: Explaining Jessica Pegula’s tattoo seen during the 2024 US Open
The Sporting News is tracking live score updates, results and highlights from throughout Saturday’s duel between Pegula and Sabalenka. Follow all the action as it happens from Arthur Ashe Stadium below.
Jessica Pegula vs. Aryna Sabalenka score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Jessica Pegula | 3 | ||||
| Aryna Sabalenka | 5 |
Jessica Pegula vs. Aryna Sabalenka live score, results, highlights from 2024 US Open final
(All times Eastern)
First set
4:49 p.m.: Pegula gets one back. Sabalenka will now serve for the set win.
4:46 p.m.: Sabalenka takes her fourth straight game. Pegula put up quite the fight, leveling things up at 40-40. Sabalenka’s unruly serve reigned supreme as the game wore on though. It seems the Buffalo native just can’t get a grasp of Sabalenka’s power thus far.
4:40 p.m.: Sabalenka starting to find her rhythm. Just broke Pegula’s serve again, bringing her two games away from a first set victory. She’s looked good doing it, too; not only is her strike looking as powerful as ever. She’s also firing off occasional drop shots to mystify her American adversary.
Aryna Sabalenka is in control in this first set! pic.twitter.com/ohT1nwVxVd
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2024
4:35 p.m.: Sabalenka holds serve, overcoming a double-fault to do so. She pulls one ahead of Pegula in Set No. 1.
4:32 p.m.: Sabalenka snatches the break right back from Pegula, bringing things even at 2 after placing a pair of inch-perfect strikes beyond Pegula. She let off a little emotion as she did so, too.
4:28 p.m.: Other notable athletes to lend their presence for Pegula vs. Sabalenka include men’s Olympic 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles and Formula One megastar Lewis Hamilton.
Noah Lyles and Lewis Hamilton in the house to watch the #USOpen women’s final 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/zCIw7K9QI6
— Christian’s Court (@christianscourt) September 7, 2024
4:26 p.m.: Pegual takes Game No. 3, breaking Sabalenka’s serve in the process. The Belarusian has looked ever so nervy in the early moments of the contest, racking up four unforced errors in the first three games.
4:23 p.m.: Pegula answers back, firing off a series of strong first serves of her own to even the score at one game apiece.
4:20 p.m.: Sabalenka takes the first game, overcoming a 30-0 hole with her venomous serve.
4:18 p.m.: Indoor matchup for Pegula and Sabalenka. Seems that’s just what Pegula wants; it should make things humid and slow down the match as a whole. Given Sabalenka’s fiery forehand, that might be just what the American needs.
4:10 p.m.: Both challengers strut onto the surface while wearing headphones. Pegula opted to listen to the crowd as she made her way through the locker room, however. Perhaps the New York native is trying to soak up the experience in her first major final.
4:05 p.m.: Sabalenka has been dominant thus far, dropping just one set en route to the final. She seeks a better result this time around atop Billie Jean King Court.
3:35 p.m.: Once more, the stars are out for today’s championship match between No. 6-ranked Jessica Pegula and No. 2-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. Among the first wave of luminaries to touch down on Arthur Ashe Stadium are Stephen Curry, Xandra and Flavor Flav.
30-Love. pic.twitter.com/IQJeTpoZJB
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2024
Xandra checks in ahead of tonight’s US Open Finals Fan Fest Afterparty! pic.twitter.com/DilRmt2bnq
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2024
Fresh off his trip to Paris for the Olympics, @FlavorFlav is ready for tennis! pic.twitter.com/quhJ5r81gw
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2024
MORE: US Open 2024 scores, full draw, at Flushing Meadows
How to watch Jessica Pegula vs. Aryna Sabalenka
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+ | fuboTV
ESPN will air the match between Pegula and Sabalenka. Viewers can also find the match on ESPN+ and stream it with Fubo, which offers a free trial.
What time does Jessica Pegula vs. Aryna Sabalenka start?
- Start time: 4 p.m. ET
The match between Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka will start at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The match will be played on center court inside Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
How to watch the US Open in the USA and Canada
US Open matches will be carried by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPN+ and Tennis Channel. Matches can be streamed on ESPN+, the ESPN app and Fubo.
TSN will carry matches in Canada, with TSN.ca and the TSN App providing live streaming options.
Below is the full schedule for the television broadcasts of the remaining matches. Coverage will begin at 11 a.m. ET each day for ESPN+ and TSN.ca/the TSN App.
| Date | Time (ET) | Round | US TV channel | Canada TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Sept. 5 | 3-5p.m. | Doubles final (mixed) | ESPN2 | TSN5 |
| 7-11 p.m. | Semifinals (women) | ESPN | TSN3/5 | |
| Fri., Sept. 6 | Noon-2 p.m. | Doubles final (women) | ESPN2 | TSN4 |
| 3-6 p.m. | Semifinals (men) | ESPN | TSN3/4 | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Semifinals (men) | ESPN | TSN3/4 | |
| Sat., Sept. 7 | Noon-2 p.m. | Doubles final (men’s) | ESPN3 | TSN1 |
| 4-7 p.m. | Championship (women) | ESPN | TSN1/4 | |
| Sun., Sept. 8 | 2-5:30 p.m. | Championship (men) | ABC | TSN1/4 |
