NEW YORK (AFP) — Jessica Pegula, denied a second trip to the US Open final by an imperious Aryna Sabalenka, admitted she just didn’t have the weapons to beat the Belarusian at her best.

For the third time in three years Sabalenka ended Pegula’s US Open hopes. She beat her in Pegula’s only Grand Slam final appearance in 2024 and knocked her out in the semi-finals last year on the way to a second straight title.

On Thursday, Sabalenka’s power and precision were again just too much.

“Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today,” she said.

“I think it’s a tough matchup for me,” Pegula added. “I feel like when she gets on to my ball striking, she can play at a very good level.”

“I’m not quite like a Rybakina where maybe I can kind of serve my way out of trouble. I didn’t think I served bad tonight. I actually served really well.”

“But I’m not quite an (Elena) Rybakina where I can serve myself out of trouble, and I’m not quite a Coco (Gauff) that can rely on insane athleticism.”

But Pegula wasn’t too disheartened by the defeat.

“I do think the way she played tonight, I think she would have beaten anybody probably.”

Pegula was among a trio of players who arrived in New York with a chance to take Sabalenka’s world number one ranking.

Elena Rybakina assured she will rise to No. 1 just by reaching the semis and will try to deny Sabalenka the title after beating Coco Gauff to reach the final.

Pegula, meanwhile, will turn her attention to the remainder of the season.

“There’s still stuff to look forward to. I would still like to finish the year strong and kind of establish myself in a good spot for the year-end rankings and hopefully make WTA Finals.”