Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka powered into the final of the US Open on Thursday, rallying from a set down to defeat American fourth seed Jessica Pegula and keep her title defence firmly on track.

Sabalenka, the world number one and top seed from Belarus, produced a battling performance to clinch a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory in two hours five minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

The 27-year-old will face the winner of Thursday's other semi-final, either Japan's Naomi Osaka or another American, Amanda Anisimova, in Saturday's final.

Sabalenka has now reached three straight US Open finals and has a chance to become the first woman to successfully defend the title since Serena Williams sealed a hat-trick of victories in 2014.

"It was a really tough match -- she played incredible tenni

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