Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka reacts after defeating USA’s Jessica Pegula during their women’s final match on day thirteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 7, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170092522
Aryna Sabalenka is finally a U.S. Open champion. The 26-year-old player — who was the runner-up at the 2023 U.S. Open behind Coco Gauff — won the women’s final on Saturday, beating American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5.
It’s Sabalenka’s first U.S. Open title and third singles Grand Slam win, along with the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens.
The No. 2 player in the world is the first woman to win the U.S. Open after losing the previous year’s final, and she’s the fifth different woman to win the Aussie Open and U.S. Open in the same year since 1988, according to ESPN.
Understandably, Sabalenka’s post-match celebration was an emotional one. Here are eight photos of her celebrating her latest Grand Slam victory
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States to win the Women’s Singles Final on Day Thirteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 07, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170736712
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States to win the Women’s Singles Final on Day Thirteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 07, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170736875
Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her women’s final match against USA’s Jessica Pegula on day thirteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 7, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170092193
Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka reacts after defeating USA’s Jessica Pegula during their women’s final match on day thirteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 7, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170095123
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus walks back to the court after celebrating with her team after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States to win the Women’s Singles Final on Day Thirteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 07, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170737330
Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka lifts the trophy after defeating USA’s Jessica Pegula during their women’s final match on day thirteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 7, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170094972
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates with the winners trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States to win the Women’s Singles Final on Day Thirteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 07, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776152838 ORIG FILE ID: 2170738652
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 8 photos of Aryna Sabalenka’s emotional U.S. Open victory celebration
