Aryna Sabalenka continues her quest for further Grand Slam success at the US Open, where she faces a rematch with Jessica Pegula.
WTA number one Sabalenka won the title in New York this time last year, defeating home favorite Pegula 7-5, 7-5.
The duo will now go head-to-head once more in the semifinals of the tournament, which Sabalenka reached after a withdrawal from Marketa Vondrousova.
Sabalenka empathised with Vondrousova, who pulled out of their US Open quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows with injury.
The top seed’s focus has since turned to Pegula, who is set to receive heavy support at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesWhat Aryna Sabalenka’s team believe about her ahead of her US Open semifinal
The American enjoyed her best-ever Grand Slam run on home soil last time out, while the Belarusian claimed her third Grand Slam title.
And Sabalenka’s new coach Max Mirnyi has now shared insight into the latest feelings in and around her camp, telling BBC Sport: “Everything fluctuates in life. We’re not machines, we’re not robots, right?
“As good as some of the professionals are in their fields, they’re still human. It comes down to being good, but not always perfect. A tennis match is very tough to make perfect.
“But it’s okay, she’s getting to the latter stages of Slams consistently, which makes us believe she is putting herself in the position time and time again to win it.”
Max Mirnyi predicts what will happen to Aryna Sabalenka as she gets older
Mirnyi certainly knows what it takes to achieve such success, having won 10 Grand Slam doubles titles during his playing career.
He has since switched his focus to helping his compatriot clinch further glory on the biggest stage, which she has come agonisingly close to on two occasions this season.
Sabalenka lost the Australian Open final to Madison Keys, and suffered the same fate against Coco Gauff at the French Open.
Sharing further insight into the 27-year-old’s attitude in light of those near misses, Mirnyi said: “I think it’s good she is emotional. But it’s about having control over those ups and downs.
“As she gets older she gets more experienced, she will advance more and more in that department – it’s natural when you’re younger and more emotional to have more outbursts.
“Here she has been very comfortable [emotionally] and is confidently progressing in all facets of the game.”
ResultYearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin2023Australian OpenHardElena Rybakina4–6, 6–3, 6–4Loss2023US OpenHardCoco Gauff6–2, 3–6, 2–6Win2024Australian OpenHardZheng Qinwen6–3, 6–2Win2024US OpenHardJessica Pegula7–5, 7–5Loss2025Australian OpenHardMadison Keys3–6, 6–2, 5–7Loss2025French OpenClayCoco Gauff7–6(7–5), 2–6, 4–6Aryna Sabalenka Grand Slam finals
World number one Sabalenka boasts three Grand Slam titles from her stunning career so far, having also lost three Grand Slam finals.
She also currently sits on 20 WTA titles, three of which have arrived this season, and worryingly for her rivals it seems that she is far from finished.