It’s deja vu – for the second event in a row on the WTA Tour, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula meet in the final. This time, it’s much more significant, with the title of US Open champion on the line.
Can Pegula bounce back from her loss to Sabalenka just three weeks ago? Will Sabalenka exact revenge for her failure at this stage last year? Read on for our Pegula vs Sabalenka betting tips and prediction.
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Player form: The best on Tour
Pegula and Sabalenka have undeniably been the best two players on the WTA Tour the past month.
Sabalenka is on an 11-match winning streak. She won the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati heading into the US Open and has now torn her way through her side of the draw for the loss of just one set. Over the last month, Sabalenka has dispatched names like Qinwen Zheng and Iga Swiatek in straight sets.
Pegula has also been brilliant and is 15-1 in her last 16 matches. She also won a WTA 1000 in the lead in Toronto before losing in the final of Cincinnati to Sabalenka.
How the bookies view it: Sabalenka well ahead
Given the recent result between the two, it’s no surprise that bookmaker Betfred has Sabalenka ahead. The world No. 2 is at just 2/5 to win her third Grand Slam title, while Pegula is well off the pace at 9/4. Sabalenka even pays just 1/1 to win in straight sets, and is given a -3.5 game handicap at 8/11.
Recent head-to-head: Domination for Sabalenka
Sabalenka and Pegula have played seven times before on the WTA Tour. Sabalenka has won five of those in straight sets, while Pegula has prevailed twice, each time in three. As touched on, their most recent meeting was last month, which ended 6-3, 7-5 in Sabalenka’s favour.
Anything else catch the eye?
There’s a gap in experience here. Sabalenka is playing her fourth Grand Slam final. She won two in Australia and lost in the final here this time last year. Pegula, on the other hand, had never been beyond the quarter-final stage of a major until this tournament.
Being American, Pegula will have most of the crowd support in New York. Sabalenka is well-liked, but that won’t compete with patriotism.
Pegula vs Sabalenka betting tips & predictions
We have Sabalenka winning this one. There’s just not enough evidence that Pegula will be able to do things differently enough to change the way the match went in Cincinnati.
- Sabalenka to win @ 2/5