Jessica Pegula played in her first grand slam final in Flushing Meadows on Saturday and despite getting downed by an opponent at the peak of her power, the top American in women’s tennis feels it will not be her last shot at a major title.

En route to the runner-up finish in a 5-7, 5-7 loss to an overpowering world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, Pegula snapped an undesirable winless record in her six previous major quarter-final appearances.

The breakthrough on Arthur Ashe Stadium’s hard court was a confidence-boosting stepping stone like several others in her career, the 30-year-old told reporters after the women’s final.

“I think I’ve taken confidence from winning a 250 (WTA Tour event), from winning a 1000, from being able to win another 1000. Multiple ones now. Then to be able to be a grand slam finalist, I think that was kind of the last thing for me,” Pegula said.

“I made a lot of quarter-finals but can I make a semi? Can I be a contender to actually win a grand slam? I lost to girls that pretty much won the tournament every time. I know my level was right there,” Pegula said.

After battling an injury this season that forced her to skip Roland Garros, a more relaxed approach to this year’s US Open provided a lift.

“I handled the moment a little bit better this year... with just having maybe a different perspective of ‘I had a rough start to the year and I didn’t really expect to be doing this well in the hard-court swing’. I was able to kind of flip that script.”

Pegula’s dream run in New York will lift her to a career-high-matching No. 3 in the world. Compatriot Emma Navarro will crack the top-10.

Doubles crown

Australian duo Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson made amends for their Wimbledon final heartbreak by lifting the men’s doubles title at the US Open with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory over German pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz on Saturday.