NEW YORK -- As the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered wildly, Aryna Sabalenka put her head down and walked to her chair. Coco Gauff was lying on the court with her head in her hands, celebrating her first major title , and Sabalenka was left to wonder how she had lost in the final at the 2023 US Open, after winning the first set 6-2. She was gracious on the court in defeat, praising Gauff and smiling for photos, but when Sabalenka left the court, she slammed her racket on the floor several times in the player gym before putting it into the trash can.
Editor's Picks Sabalenka, 'so close' before, finally wins US Open 32m D'Arcy Maine At 30, Jessica Pegula is on the brink of her first major semifinal 5d D'Arcy Maine When she spoke to reporters later, Sabalenka vowed the disappointing loss would only help her in the future. "It's [a] lesson for me," she said. "I will learn and then come back stronger.
" On Saturday, 364 days and a roller coaster of a season later, the 26-year-old Sabalenka made good on her promise, as she defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to claim the 2024 US Open title. It was Sabalenka's third major title overall -- and she became the first woman to hoist the US Open trophy after losing in the final the previous year since Serena Williams in 2012. This time when the match was over, it was Sabalenka with her head in her hands as she fell to the court.
The only racket smash had happened during a tense moment late in the first set, and this time the tears running .