Jessica Pegula v Aryna Sabalenka LIVE: US Open women’s final score and updates as American faces World No 2 for title

Sabalenka responds to a double fault on 30-30 with her fastest serve of the tournament. Pegula fires wide on the forehand and the Belarusian edges ahead with the first set on serve after that early trade of breaks.

There are some vicious forehands from both players already, as Sabalenka lands a big forehand winner against the Pegula serve to get to 0-30.

Pegula conjures an ace out wide, before Sabalenka nets on the backhand. 30-30, and this time Pegula finds an excellent angle on the forehand!

In response, Sabalenka throws herself at the forehand winner crosscourt and erupts behind the baseline after getting to deuce.

A loose forehand from Pegula gives Sabalenka a look a break point. And Sabalenka takes it: almost a copy of the last game, with a brutal backhand return into Pegula’s feet.

Monster return from Pegula on the forehand on 15-15, eventually winning the baseline rally. 15-30, and Pegula finds a return on a big Sabalenka serving, and hangs in the rally to force the miss on the forehand!

Now then. Two break points on 15-40.

WHAT A RETURN! A bomb from Pegula off the forehand side, aimed right at Sabalenka’s feet!

The early break goes to the American.

Some crisp hitting early on from Pegula, who drops the first point on serve but then wins the next four to hold. Sabalenka would want a backhand slice back on 0-15, as it dropped into the bottom of the net.

It’s clear the crowd are fully behind Pegula tonight. Overwhelmingly so.

Pegula lands a stunning forehand winner on the opening point of the match, which is followed by a forehand miss from Sabalenka.

In previous years, Sabalenka might have felt the pressure on 0-30. Instead, she rattles off four big serves to take the hold without another rally.

The rain is pounding on the roof overhead. It’s really loud at court level.

The roof is closed on Arthur Ashe tonight – which is a good call as the heavens have just opened in Flushing Meadows!

It should be an electric atmosphere, especially if Pegula can really give this is a go. Sabalenka is the favourite, just as she was against Coco Gauff last year.

We know what that went: can Pegula pull off the same trick to keep the US Open in American hands? Sabalenka will serve to start.

Pegula and Sabalenka skip through their pre-match tunnel interviews without revealing too much that they haven’t already said before tonight’s final.

And here we go! Both Pegula and Sabalenka walk out onto the biggest court in tennis wearing headphones – Pegula, ahead of her first grand slam final, seems to realise this is a moment she should remember, so lowers them around her neck before waving to the crowd.

James Keothavong is tonight’s chair umpire, as former US Open champion Kim Clijsters, who I think is joined by her eldest daughter, join in with the pre-match photo.

Clijsters, of course, returned to win the US Open after giving birth.

Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and US basketball star Steph Curry are among the sporting icons in the house tonight.

We’re almost ready to go.

With Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, this is the first time an American woman and man are both in the finals of the US Open since 2002. That was when Serena Williams and Pete Sampras were champions.

It could be a big US Open weekend.

There is going to be an opening ceremony before tonight’s US Open women’s final, which feels a bit unnecessary but there we are.

Aryna Sabalenka ahead of playing her second US Open final in row, following defeat to Coco Gauff last year.

“I had really tough lessons here in the past, really as I think I had so many opportunities but I didn’t use them for different reasons. I wasn’t ready. Then I got emotional. Then I just couldn’t handle the crowd.

“So many times I felt like I just missed the opportunity, and every time I come back here I really enjoy being in New York.

“I enjoy these courts, I enjoy the crowd, I enjoy playing in this beautiful stadium in front of the crowd. I enjoy the city, the time on the court.

“Every time I come back here, I have this positive thinking, like, ‘Come on, maybe this time’.

“Every time I’m hoping that one day I’ll be able to hold that beautiful trophy.

“The tough losses never made me feel depressed or think of not coming back to the tournament.

“It’s only motivated me to come back and to try one more time, try harder and maybe, like, work harder on some things which maybe didn’t work in the past.

“I’m still hoping to hold that beautiful trophy.”