Pegula rocks the backhand return at Sabalenka’s feet and gets a look at 30-30.

Sabalenka responds with an ace down the middle, finding the line, and then producing a brilliant angle on the forehand winner crosscourt.

What’s up with this net on Arthur Ashe? Yesterday Anisimova got a huge net-cord on match point against Swiatek, and Sabalenka already gets a massive kick on a net-cord that bounced up, hit the tape again, but landed over.

Pegula steadies and drives her forehand to get a good winner on her way to getting the hold. After a double-fault in that game as well, that’s a decent save.

Sabalenka pushes a forehand long after a short ball from Pegula on just the second point, but she recovers her poise to hold.

Pegula could not keep her return in play on 15-15.

It’s been very windy in New York this afternoon so the roof has been closed for tonight’s semi-finals.

Sabalenka will serve to start the match.

“The key for me is to focus on myself”, says Aryna Sabalenka moments before stepping out onto court. The World No 1 has been through some tough defeats this season, but is determined to put things right at the tournament she won last year, beating Jessica Pegula in the final.

Both Pegula and Sabalenka step out onto court with their ears wrapped under huge headphones. Almost ready to go.

We are almost ready to go in the first of tonight’s US Open semi-finals!

This is the hottest ticket in town, with the semi-finals played back-to-back in the night session Arthur Ashe Arena.

And with two Americans facing two grand slam winners, it should be an electric atmosphere.

With the semi-finals about to get underway, the US Open women’s final will be played on Saturday 6 September at 4pm local time (9pm UK time).

Could Aryna Sabalenka become the first defending champion to retain her title since Serena Williams in 2014?

Recent US Open champions

2024 (2) Aryna Sabalenka

2023 (6) Coco Gauff

2022 (1) Iga Swiatek

2021 Emma Raducanu

2020 (4) Naomi Osaka

2019 (15) Bianca Andreescu

2018 (20) Naomi Osaka

2017 Sloane Stephens

2016 (2) Angelique Kerber

2015 (26) Flavia Pennetta

2014 (1) Serena Williams

2013 (1) Serena Williams

2012 (4) Serena Williams

Aryna Sabalenka may have defeated Jessica Pegula to win last year’s US Open, but all three of her defeats in grand slams this season have come against Americans.

She lost to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, Coco Gauff in the French Open final, and Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Could Jessica Pegula complete the sweep?

“It still feels a bit surreal, for sure. It's the farthest I've gone by far at the US Open, and it's extremely special. Today is definitely the most meaningful victory I've had in my life.

“I have that belief in myself and that confidence that I'm able to play at the top level, and I'm able to really go head-to-head with these top three and everyone who is in the top 10. I've shown that, and I think I was able to prove that to myself time and time again for a long time now.

“It's really competitive these days, and also the grand slams are really tough. So I'm just really pleased to make it this far for the first time.”

Just 53 days after losing 6-0 6-0 to Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, Anisimova showed no fear as she earned revenge and reached the US Open semi-finals.