{
  "id": 6495721,
  "title": "Pegula aiming to thwart Sabalenka three-peat in US Open semis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/pegula-aiming-to-thwart-sabalenka-three-peat-in-us-open-semis",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-09T23:21:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/pegula-aiming-thwart-sabalenka-three-232132082.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka is determined to prevent Jessica Pegula from achieving a third consecutive US Open title on Thursday night. The two face off in a high-stakes semi-final at Flushing Meadows, marking the first time since 1975 that the top four women's seeds have all advanced to this stage. Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in both the final and semi-final of last year's tournament, will be looking to transfer her success from smaller stages to the Grand Slam level. She admitted that overcoming Sabalenka's formidable presence will be a significant challenge. On the other side of the draw, Elena Rybakina, who has secured the top ranking after reaching the semis, will take on Coco Gauff in another memorable semi-final. Rybakina's ascent to the No. 1 spot was aided by her recent victory over Gauff in the Toronto semi-final. Gauff, a four-time winner at the US Open, remains focused on her quest to dethrone Rybakina and claim her third major title.",
  "summary": "Aryna Sabalenka is gunning for her third US Open title in a row -- can Jessica Pegula stop her this time?AFP Sport looks at women's semi-final action on Day 12 of the US Open: Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x1) v Jessica Pegula (USA x3) Sabalenka leads head to head 9-4 -- Pegula came into the tournament as one of three players with a chance to take the number one ranking from Sabalenka, but that discussion…",
  "key_points": [
    "Jessica Pegula aims to stop Sabalenka's three-peat at US Open.",
    "Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula meet in high-stakes semi-final.",
    "Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff face off in another semi-final."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Gauff fights back to beat Andreeva and reach US Open semis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/gauff-fights-back-to-beat-andreeva-and-reach-us-open-semis",
        "published": "2026-09-09T20:50:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Gauff fights back to beat Andreeva and reach US Open semis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/gauff-fights-back-to-beat-andreeva-and-reach-us-open-semis-6489361",
        "published": "2026-09-09T22:08:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Aryna Sabalenka cruises past Jessica Pegula and into the U.S. Open final",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/aryna-sabalenka-cruises-past-jessica-pegula-and-into-the-u-s-open",
        "published": "2026-09-11T00:46:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Rybakina rallies to beat Gauff, book US Open final with Sabalenka",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/rybakina-rallies-to-beat-gauff-book-us-open-final-with-sabalenka",
        "published": "2026-09-11T03:47:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "‘Desperate’ Sabalenka books U.S. Open title clash with Rybakina",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/desperate-sabalenka-books-u-s-open-title-clash-with-rybakina",
        "published": "2026-09-11T04:06:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}