NEW YORK, USA – Tenacious tiger-tattooed Aryna Sabalenka embodied the spirit of her favorite animal in New York this year as she clawed her way back from injury and disappointment to hoist the US Open trophy at last.
The world No. 2 retained her title at the Australian Open but suffered a back injury in Rome and crashed out with illness in the Roland Garros quarterfinal. She missed Wimbledon entirely due to a shoulder injury.
Her signature tiger arm tattoo became a fitting emblem then as she roared back on to the tour to win last month’s Cincinnati tuneup event and swiped aside competitors in Flushing Meadows.
She dropped only one set on the road to the final and downed American Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 7-5, on Saturday, September 7, after finishing runner-up a year ago. She had two previous semifinal appearances, as well.
“I faced a lot of challenges on and off the court,” the Belarusian said.
“That’s why it’s very special, because no matter what, every time I was coming back stronger and I was learning. I never gave up on this dream, and yeah, you know, it means a lot.”
Her tiger tattoo has become a must-have for her devotees – at least temporary ink – as a young super-fan charmed crowds in the second round with a wash-off tiger tattoo and matching kit.
For Saturday’s championship match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, her performance coach Jason Stacy arrived with the tiger tattoo on his head, which she slapped with satisfaction after winning the title.
“In Washington there is one girl, she’s my fan, she’s supporting me and she always come up with some cool stuff related to my name,” said Sabalenka.
“She brought these temporary tattoos, and Jason promised me that if I make it to the finals… he’s gonna put it on his forehead.”
The pair have come up with other superstitions around Stacy’s bald head, as she began signing it with a marker – a strange pre-match ritual before her successful Australian Open defense.
“Just always come up with something new,” she said. “It was signature, and now it’s, like, tiger tattoo. I’m really curious what’s going to be next.”
Raw power
Sabalenka hoisted the trophy in New York at last after years of close calls, as she outmaneuvered American sixth seed Pegula.
The 26-year-old Sabalenka won her first title at Flushing Meadows a year after coming up short in the final. Twice before, she reached the semifinals.
On Saturday, she blocked out the wild cheers for the hometown favorite on Arthur Ashe Stadium to break Pegula in the final game.
“So many times I thought I was so close to get US Open title. Finally, I get this beautiful trophy,” said the second seed, who fought back from a breakdown in both sets to claim victory and fell to the court in her moment of triumph.
Pegula, 30, had waited a long time to reach her first major final and came to New York in fine form after winning in Toronto. But she could not match her opponent’s raw power despite the noisy backing of the New York crowd.
“To be standing here in my first Grand Slam final and then coming off such a hot summer, I mean I didn’t expect it so I’m just really grateful for the last few weeks of tennis,” said Pegula.
The roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium was closed due to heavy rain and the players traded breaks twice as they settled into the stormy affair in front of a celebrity-packed house.
Sabalenka held her serve through a four-deuce 11th game and fought through a spine-tingling 12th, mixing precision at the net with her usual power from the baseline before breaking her opponent on the fifth set point.
Pegula struggled with her rackets throughout the match, complaining to her coaches as she seemed unable to find the right tension on her strings, and it looked as though she would not put up a fight in the second set when Sabalenka went 3-0 up.
The American found another level and brought fans to their feet when she won the next five games in a furious fight back, a month after Sabalenka denied her the title in Cincinnati.
Sabalenka leveled when she sent over a forehand winner that just kissed the line on break point in the 10th game and sought to bring a swift end to the contest, holding serve and then applying pressure from the baseline in the final game.
Sabalenka’s backhand return of Pegula’s 30-40 serve ignited a desperate six shot rally, ending with a break as the American’s forehand sailed out.
Tears flowed immediately for Sabalenka as she claimed her third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open twice. She high-fived fans as she ran up the stands to share a joyful celebration with her team.
“I remember all those tough loses in the past here and you know, it’s going to sound cheesy but never give up on your dream and just keep trying,” she said.
The Belarusian dropped only one set in New York on her way to the final as key contenders including defending champion Coco Gauff and top seed Iga Swiatek crashed out.
The performance was particularly sweet after injury sidelined her midway through the season, and she missed both Wimbledon and the Paris Games.
“I’m super proud of myself, super proud of my team that no matter what, no matter what situation we were facing this season and in the past we were able to go through it,” she said.
Fans embrace
Sabalenka has had an up-and-down relationship with the Flushing Meadows after she found herself across the court from another home hope, Gauff, a year ago in the championship.
She jokingly offered the boisterous ticket-holders a free round of drinks if they would support her after she sent another American, Emma Navarro, packing in the semifinal this time around.
There was no sign of her picking up the bar tab on Saturday — even as she collected a cool $3.6 million with the win — but the New York crowd gave her proper credit as she lifted the trophy she had craved for so long.
“Of course I expected you to cheer for Jessica. That wouldn’t be normal if you would cheer for me,” she told the fans in her post-match remarks.
“Thank you so much for all the support throughout these two incredible weeks. You guys are really amazing and you make this place very special.” – Rappler.com