Sabalenka dedicates US Open title to her family

NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka dedicated her US Open title to her family who "never gave up on my dream" after achieving a third Grand Slam title amid a year of personal torment.

World No 2 Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to add a maiden New York crown to her back-to-back Australian Open titles.

The US Open is the first Grand Slam she has won since the death of her former boyfriend in March — she only made the last-eight at the French Open and missed Wimbledon with injury.