“I remember all those tough losses in the past here. It’s going to sound easy but never give up on your dreams and just keep trying, keep working hard. If you’re really working hard and you’re sacrificing everything for a dream, you’re going to get it one day,” said Sabalenka, who now owns three major titles, two at the Australian Open and one in the US.

“I’m just super proud of myself. I never say that, but really guys, I’m super proud of myself, I’m proud of my team that no matter what, no matter which situation we were facing, this season and in the past, we were able to go through it and get all those beautiful trophies.”

Pegula was understandably disappointed with the loss, knowing she had a chance to take the match to a third set.

“I think she played some big tennis in some big moments,” said the 30-year-old Buffalo native.

“I think for sure I will take a lot of confidence from this in maybe like an hour or two, because like I said, I’m kind of annoyed. Not even annoyed losing the tournament. I think it’s more just I was looking at it at, like, I just wanted to win the match. Now there is things that are just in my head that I feel I should have done better and stuff like that. But like I said, I think that will pass in a little bit.”