\n<\/p>\n
After losing to Gauff in last year’s final, a tearful Sabalenka admitted she had struggled to deal with the crowd, later saying the noise was so loud it “blocked my ears”.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere was no different this time around, with Pegula receiving the majority of the support from the packed 23,000-seater stadium.<\/p>\n
There were times when Sabalenka looked like the occasion would again get the better of her as she hit 34 unforced errors and five double faults.<\/p>\n
Once the type of player who failed to keep her emotions in check, she has taken active steps to strengthen her mentality, including working with a psychologist, to become one of the most consistent competitors on the WTA Tour.<\/p>\n
With injuries disrupting her season – she struggled with a stomach problem at the French Open before a shoulder issue ruled her out of Wimbledon – Sabalenka has got back on track with successive titles after beating Pegula in the final of last month’s Cincinnati Open.<\/p>\n
“I wish she would have at least let me get one set. We had a tough match in Cincinnati a few weeks ago and she’s one of the best in the world,” Pegula said.<\/p>\n
“She’s super powerful and isn’t going to give you anything, she can take the racquet out of your hand.”<\/p>\n
Sabalenka’s victory in New York sees her become the first player to win both hard-court Slams in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n