Sabalenka and Anisimova to meet in the tournament's final round

Aryna Sabalenka, the current US Open champion, is on the brink of history after securing her place in the final following a hard-fought semifinal victory over Jessica Pegula. The Belarusian tennis star defeated Pegula in a thrilling three-set encounter, with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Sabalenka's path to the final was not without challenges. Her quarterfinal opponent retired, meaning she had not played since Sunday. However, she showed no signs of rust in the semifinals, displaying her powerful game to outmanoeuvre Pegula.

Pegula, who committed nine double faults in the second set, struggled to keep up with Sabalenka's relentless attack. The American played cleanly in the first and third sets, committing only three double faults in each, but it was not enough to match Sabalenka's dominance.

Sabalenka ended the match with a third match point after two double faults on her first two attempts. The win improves her record against Pegula to 8-2.

In the final, Sabalenka will face Amanda Anisimova, who upset the 23rd-seeded Japanese Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals. Anisimova needed three match points to secure her victory, with a scoreline of 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3.

This will be Anisimova's second consecutive Grand Slam final, following her run to the French Open final earlier this year. Notably, Anisimova became the first player to beat Osaka this far in a Grand Slam, ending Osaka's impressive 14-0 record in quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals of major tournaments.

Interestingly, Sabalenka and Anisimova have previously met, with Anisimova eliminating Sabalenka in the semifinals at Wimbledon. Sabalenka, however, will be determined to turn the tables and secure her fourth Grand Slam title.

"It means a lot. I'm going to fight on Saturday for every point like it's the last of my life," Sabalenka stated after the match, expressing her determination for the final.

The retractable roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium was closed before the start of the semifinals, ensuring a consistent playing surface for the final. Friday will see the men's semifinals, with Félix Auger-Aliassime (27) facing Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz taking on Novak Djokovic.

As the US Open final approaches, Sabalenka has the opportunity to emulate Serena Williams, who won three consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows from 2012 to 2014. With her powerful serve and aggressive playstyle, Sabalenka will be a formidable opponent for Anisimova in the final.