US Open women's final: Aryna Sabalenka holds off Jessica Pegula rally for straight sets victory

ESPN showed footage of Aryna Sabalenka's reaction to losing last year's US Open final to Coco Gauff. Obviously, that upset her greatly and a racket took the brunt of her frustration.

Compare that to Saturday's much different display of emotion.

"I’m speechless. So many times I was so close, and it’s always been a dream of mine," Aryna Sabalenka said in her post-match interview. "In the second set I was praying. I remember those tough losses, never give up on your dream. I am super-proud of myself.”

Sabalenka breaks Pegula's serve, hitting two scorching forehands that the American has difficulty catching up to. The second return went long and Sabalenka wins 7-5.

Once again, Sabalenka's power on her serve and forehead put Pegula on the defensive. That may have been the pivotal game of this second set. But Pegula is now on serve.

Sabalenka appeared to be getting frustrated as this second set was getting away from her. But two straight break points has tied it at 5-5. Sabalenka now serving and will see if she fought off Pegula's best effort.

With her back to the net, Sabalenka hits a backhand cross-court return that goes just out of Pegula's reach. She didn't even see where the shot was going. A wonderfully athletic play that allows her to hold.

On her second serve, Pegula double faults with a ball into the net and squats down, apparently believing she let one get away.

But Sabalenka isn't hitting the ball with as much accuracy as before and the mistakes are mounting. Pegula takes a 5-3 lead.

After Sabalenka went up 3-0 and barreling toward a 4-0 lead, Pegula broke Sabalenka's serve and has rallied to lead 4-3. She's now going on serve.

This match could be going to a third set, which is a surprising turnaround.

Sabalenka hits her backhand return long and Pegula holds serve to tie the set at 3-3.

Can Sabalenka regain some momentum on serve? Pegula is very much back in this match.

ESPN mics caught Pegula between games telling coaches that her rackets "feel dead." Perhaps the conditions with the closed roof are affecting Pegula's feel and the way she's able to play the ball off the hardcourt surface.

However, she has a chance to tie up this set while on serve.

After finally getting a game by holding serve, Jessica Pegula breaks Aryna Sabalenka and has now closed the set to 3-2 when it looked as if Sabalenka might cruise.

Pegula now on serve.

Pegula is starting to look like she might be in trouble. Sabalenka is gaining momentum on her way to a 3-0 lead. Pegula needs to hold serve here to stay in this match.

Pegula's demeanor is beginning to look like someone who's staying in this match, but can't overcome Sabalenka's serve despite her best defensive efforts.

She has a 2-0 lead and appears to be gaining confidence in this second set.

Sabalenka breaks Pegula's serve to take the first set, 7-5.

Pegula fought back hard to get it to 5-5, but Sabalenka is settling in with excellent shotmaking. Pegula showed some frustration in tossing her racket, knowing she's playing well but didn't get the results.

Pegula had a chance to hold serve and had Sabalenka leaning the wrong way for a return. But she hit the ball into the net and knew she missed a point she should've gotten.

Pegula has fought her way back to 5-5, spurred on by the supportive crowd. Sabalenka has her fans too and she called for cheers at one point.

And Sabalenka holds with a nice backhand to win the point and go up 6-5.

After hitting a return into the net, Sabalenka pounds her racket against the court several times. The crowd responded to her frustration. But she's still on serve at 5-5.

Big break by Pegula, slowing Sabalenka's roll.

She closes to within 5-4 and takes over on serve.

Pegula isn't overwhelmed by Sabalenka's power like Emma Navarro seemed to be in the women's semifinal. But Sabalenka is forcing her to frequently play defense against a powerful serve and return strokes.

Again, the crowd is showing big support for Pegula.

As could be expected, the crowd is on Pegula's side, cheering the American on. That may be providing a boost, but Sabalenka holds serve and takes a 5-2 lead in the first set.

With Pegula playing far back to keep up with Sabalenka's strokes, Sabalenka tries a drop shot. But she's back on the baseline and doesn't have enough to get it over the net. Kind of a funny play, but probably not a costly mistake.

Sabalenka is starting to assert her power. While Pegula is keeping up with her serve and returns, Sabalenka is gaining confidence as she hits the ball harder and with accuracy.

Sabalenka seems a bit frustrated early on that she can't overpower Pegula with her serve or forehand return. But she broke Pegula's serve and may have righted herself to tie 2-2 as she takes over.

With heavy rain in Queens, the roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium is closed. Many have observed that the sound of the rain combined with the crowd creates too much noise and can throw off players' timing if they can't hear the ball being struck.

Maybe that's helping Pegula thus far... ? She has serve next.

Pegula is keeping up with Sabalenka's serve well to begin the first set. If there was any thought that she might have opening jitters against the No. 2 seed, she isn't showing that.

Sabalenka gets first serve after Pegula wins the coin toss and opts to receive. Learned that from her parents' football team, maybe?

Aryna Sabalenka (No. 2) is 5-2 in her matchups with Jessica Pegula (No. . The two last faced in each other in the final of the Cincinnati Open, which Sabalenka won 6-3, 7-5.

This is the second consecutive US Open final for Sabalenka. She was defeated by Coco Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. For Pegula, this is her first Grand Slam final.

Jessica Pegula, daughter of Buffalo Bills team owners Terry and Kim Pegula, got shout-outs from the football team on Saturday before Saturday's US Open final.

Some good pep talks in there! Maybe a Pegula win will be a good sign for the Bills, who face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 on Sunday.