Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka try to win the US Open for the first time

NEW YORK (AP) — Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka have started play in the U.S. Open women's final. Both players are trying to win the title at Flushing Meadows for the first time.

The title match is being played with the roof closed at Arthur Ashe Stadium after rain fell earlier Saturday.

Pegula is a 30-year-old from New York who is the No. 6 seed and appearing in the first Grand Slam final of her career. She had been 0-6 in major quarterfinals until eliminating No. 1 Iga Swiatek in that round on Wednesday.

Sabalenka is a 26-year-old from Belarus who is the No. 2 seed and seeking her third major championship. She has won the Australian Open each of the past two seasons and was the runner-up to Coco Gauff at the 2023 U.S. Open.

Sabalenka entered the match on an 11-match winning streak. Among the crowd were Stephen Curry, Noah Lyles, Lewis Hamilton and Anna Wintour.

Pegula has won 15 of her past 16 matches, all on hard courts like those used at Flushing Meadows. The lone loss in that span came against Sabalenka in the final of the Cincinnati Open last month.

No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy will face No. 12 Taylor Fritz of the United States in the men's final Sunday. Sinner is seeking his second Grand Slam title, while Fritz hopes to become the first American man to win a major trophy since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jessica Pegula, of the United States, walks onto the court for the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, walks onto the court before the women's singles final against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Speth Curry and his wife arrive for the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships between Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, and Jessica Pegula, of the United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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