Aryna Sabalenka among GOATs earning fourth consecutive U.S. Open finals appearance

Aryna Sabalenka continued adding to her Tennis Hall of Fame resume with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Jessica Pegula in the US Open Semifinals on Thursday night. With the win, Sabalenka became the sixth woman in the Open Era to reach four consecutive US Open Championship matches.

Evonne Goolagong was the first player to advance to four consecutive US Open Finals during the Open Era, with appearances from 1973 through 1976. Goolagong lost to Margaret Court in 1973, Billie Jean King in 1974 and Chris Evert in 1975. 

Evert holds the Open Era record with six consecutive US Open final appearances from 1975 through 1980, with titles in her first four appearances and in 1980. Evert beat Goolagong in 1975 and '76, Wendy Turnbull in 1977, Pam Shriver in 1978 and Hana Mandlikova in 1979. Tracy Austin beat Evert in the 1979 US Open final. 

Martina Navratilova appeared in the US Open final from 1983 through 1987. Navratilova won titles in 1984, 1986 and 1987. Navratilova beat Evert to win the 1983 and 1984 titles at the height of their rivalry and Helena Sukova in 1986. In the 1987 title match, Navratilova defeated another tennis legend, Steffi Graf. Mandlikova beat Navratilova in 1985.