NEW YORK (AP) — On Aryna Sabalenka's first chance to end her U.S. Open semifinal against Jessica Pegula for the chance to play for a second consecutive trophy , the defending champion dumped what should have been an easy overhead into the net, then stared at the ground.

On Sabalenka's second chance, she missed a clumsy volley — and maybe shouldn't have even ventured forward, because she went just 15 for 27 when up at the net. Uh, oh.

So good at important moments in the high-stakes, high-tension final set, Sabalenka held it together there and held on, converting her third match point Thursday night to finish off a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Pegula in a rematch of last year’s final .

“I was super emotional. I was just like, ‘Oh, my gosh, no way it’s happening. Please, just close thi

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