Keeping the outside noise away, Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the women’s singles final of the US Open 2026 with a dominant straight-sets win over local favourite Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 6-2, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Sabalenka is no longer merely dominating the hard courts; she is rewriting the record books. The world No. 1 reached her fourth consecutive US Open final and, in doing so, became the first player, male or female, in the Open Era to reach eight consecutive Grand Slam finals on hard courts. The achievement takes Sabalenka beyond a mark previously shared by three of the sport’s biggest names, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis and Novak Djokovic, all of whom reached seven straight Grand Slam finals on the surface. Now, with Elena Rybakina waiting in the 2026 US Open final, Sabalenka has another piece of history in sight.
Sabalenka is also chasing another historic feat in New York, one that has eluded some of the greatest players in tennis. A victory on Saturday evening would give her a third consecutive US Open crown, putting her alongside Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women in the Open Era to complete a three-peat at Flushing Meadows. Serena remains the most recent player to achieve the feat, winning the tournament in 2012, 2013 and 2014. For Sabalenka, it would be another milestone in a period that has established her as one of the most dominant hard-court players in women’s tennis.
Aryna Sabalenka Betters Novak Djokovic’s Open Era Record
Sabalenka’s latest milestone is remarkable because of the company she has left behind. Her eight consecutive hard-court Grand Slam finals stretch from the 2023 Australian Open through the 2026 US Open. Graf and Hingis had previously managed seven in a row, while Djokovic matched that number during his extraordinary run from the 2010 US Open through the 2013 US Open.
The numbers underline just how consistently Sabalenka has delivered at the two Grand Slam tournaments played on hard courts. Her run has included four consecutive Australian Open finals and four straight US Open finals, with titles in Melbourne in 2023 and 2024 and back-to-back triumphs in New York in 2024 and 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka Eyes Serena Williams’ US Open Three-Peat
The next target is even bigger. Sabalenka is one win away from joining Evert and Serena in the exclusive club of women who have won three consecutive US Open singles titles in the Open Era. Serena’s 2012-14 run remains the benchmark, and Sabalenka has openly acknowledged how much the achievement would mean.
The challenge is Rybakina, who defeated Coco Gauff to reach the final and will also become the new world No. 1 after the tournament. The two have already met in major finals, including the 2026 Australian Open final, where Rybakina prevailed.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Hard-Court Dominance From Melbourne to New York
Sabalenka’s rise has been built on far more than one tournament. Her four consecutive Australian Open finals, combined with four straight US Open finals, have made her the defining hard-court presence of this generation. She also completed the Sunshine Double in 2026 by winning Indian Wells and Miami, further underlining her command of American hard courts.
The US Open final now offers Sabalenka the chance to turn that sustained dominance into another historic title. The record has already fallen. The three-peat is the prize still waiting.
