Aryna Sabalenka claimed the women’s singles title at the US Open 2024, defeating Jessica Pegula in a thrilling final. With this victory, the Belarusian became the first woman since 2016 to secure both hard-court Majors in the same year, having previously won the Australian Open without dropping a single set.
This marks Sabalenka’s second title at the US Open, as she had previously captured the women’s doubles crown. By achieving this remarkable feat, she joins an elite group of women who have triumphed in both singles and doubles at Flushing Meadows, alongside legends like Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King.
In this century, only three women have accomplished this incredible achievement, and now we’ll take a closer look at their stories.
#3. Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka is the most recent addition to this list courtesy of her exploits over the past fortnight. The Belarusian first tasted success at the US Open in 2019, when she won the women’s doubles title with Elise Mertens.
The pair were seeded fourth and won the tournament after beating eighth seeds Victoria Azarenka and Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 7-5 in the final. This would be the exact scoreline in the women’s singles final five years later, where Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula.
The Belarusian thus won her second Grand Slam of 2024 and third Major singles title overall.
#2. Venus Williams
Venus Williams has tasted both singles and doubles success at the US Open during the 21st century. Her maiden singles title in Flushing Meadows came in 2000, when she reached the final after three-set wins over Nathalie Tauziat and then-World No. 1 Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
Williams beat Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 7-5 in the final to win her second successive Grand Slam singles title, having previously won Wimbledon that year. The American successfully defended her US Open title in 2001 by beating her sister Serena Williams in the final.
Venus Williams’ only doubles title at the US Open in the 21st century came in 2009, when she partnered her sister.
#1. Serena Williams
Serena Williams shares the record for the most number of women’s singles titles at the US Open in the Open Era, having won it six times. Her maiden title at Flushing Meadows came in 1999, when she was the singles as well as the doubles champion.
Williams attained this feat in the 21st century as well, winning five singles titles at the US Open and one women’s doubles title. The American won the 2002 edition of the hard-court Major by beating sister Venus Williams in the final. Six years later, she won the women’s singles tournament by defeating Jelena Jankovic in the final.
In 2009, Serena Williams missed out on the singles title but did win the women’s doubles title with her sister Venus Williams. The pair beat Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-2, 6-2 in the final.
Serena Williams then had a hattrick of singles title triumphs at Flushing Meadows from 2012-2014.