NEW YORK :World number one Aryna Sabalenka fought back to keep her U.S. Open title defence rolling on Thursday by beating American Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-3 6-4 in their semi-final. The Belarusian recovered from a nervy start in a rematch of the 2024 finale, drowning out the partisan fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium and overwhelming the fourth seed with 43 winners and eight aces. Pegula brought some of her best tennis to Flushing Meadows this year but after winning the first set she struggled to absorb