Fourth time's the charm for 2024 U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka proved that dreams can come true on Saturday in the U.S. Open final.

After coming excruciatingly close to winning the title over the previous three years, Sabalenka finally got over the hump. In front of a packed house at Arthur Asche Stadium in Queens, New York, she knocked off American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5, earning the right to call herself a U.S. Open champion.

Sabalenka had reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open in 2021 and 2022 before ultimately reaching the finals in 2023, where she fell to Coco Gauff. For the Australian, the fourth time was the charm and she used the grind to get there as an important lesson for others striving for a goal.

"I remember all of those tough losses in the past here, and it's going to sound easy, but never give up on your dream and just keep trying, keep working hard," Sabalenka said via the U.S. Open . "If you're really working hard, you're sacrificing everything for a dream, you're going to get better someday."

The milestone victory also helped Sabalenka continue to honor her family, as she promised she'd do after her father's passing.

"After I lost father, it's always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis," Sabalenka told reporters . "And, every time I see my name on that trophy, I'm so proud of myself. I'm proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream."

The U.S. Open title is Sabalenka's third grand slam title which includes back-to-back Australian Open championship wins in 2023 and 2024. But Saturday's win put her in rare company, as she's the first Australian to win both tournaments in the same year since Angelique Kerber, per the U.S. Open .