CNN
—

American Jessica Pegula has reached her first Grand Slam singles final. The world number six came back from a set and break deficit to defeat unseeded Czech Karolína Muchová 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the US Open on Thursday in New York.

At 30, she is the oldest American woman in the Open Era to reach her first Grand Slam singles final, appearing in her first major semifinal after going 0-6 in the quarterfinals.

Pegula, born in Buffalo, trailed Muchová 6-1, 2-0, but then made a comeback.

“It’s a childhood dream,” Pegula said. “It’s what I wanted when I was a kid. It’s a lot of work, a lot of hard work. You can’t imagine how much goes into it. … I’m just happy to be in the final, but of course I’m coming here to win the title.”

In the final on Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, she will face world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who is back in the US Open final for the second year in a row. The Belarusian was runner-up in 2023, but lost to American Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka, who was chasing her third Grand Slam singles title – after winning the Australian Open for the second straight year in January – defeated American world No. 13 Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6(2) in the earlier semi-final on Thursday night.

Pegula had missed part of the season earlier this year, including the French Open, due to injury. But during the North American hardcourt swing this summer, Pegula has found her groove, going 15-1.

Her only loss: in the final of the Cincinnati Open against 26-year-old Sabalenka.

“You know, if you had told me at the beginning of the year that I would be in the final of the US Open, I would have laughed really hard. That’s just what I thought, I didn’t expect to be here,” Pegula said.

“So to be able to overcome all those challenges and be able to say that on Saturday I have a shot at the title, that’s what we play for as players, let alone that I can do that in my home country here, in my home slam. It’s really perfect.”

Muchová, currently No. 52, was reaching her second consecutive US Open semifinal despite it being only her sixth tournament of the season. She had missed nine months with a wrist injury.

Sabalenka – the favorite to win the title – was back in the US Open semi-finals for the fourth year in a row.

After beating Navarro, Sabalenka humorously joked about the New York crowd.

“Now guys, you’re cheering for me,” said a laughing Sabalenka. “Well, I mean, it’s a little late. … Even though you were supporting her, I got goosebumps from your cheering.

“There was an incredible atmosphere. I really enjoyed playing. And she’s such a great player. Really tough opponent. I’m very happy to have come through this difficult semi-final.”

Sabalenka led this match by a set and a break, but a surging Navarro – in her first Grand Slam semi-final – came back from 5-3 down to send the second set to a tiebreak, much to the delight of the fans.

A year ago in the final, the New York crowd was not on Sabalenka’s side either – cheering loudly for Gauff. That will probably be the case again when she takes on Pegula on Saturday.

Sabalenka admitted the crowd influenced her during the 2023 final. On Thursday night, she said she thought about that experience at the end of the match.

“Today in the match I thought, ‘No, no, no, Aryna, this is not going to happen again,'” Sabalenka said. “‘You have to control your emotions. You have to focus on yourself.'”

And as for the support she may or may not get in Saturday’s final?

“Today was a good test of the crowd cheering on my opponent, and even if it’s Pegula, I don’t care,” Sabalenka said. “I’m ready to face whoever. I learned the lesson from last year and I really hope I’ll do a little bit better than last year.”