It wasn’t to be for Jessica Pegula at the US Open this year, with the home favourite beaten by Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final.

The sixth seed was looking to make it back-to-back home champions in New York though fell 7-5, 7-5 to the Belarusian in a hard-fought contest.

With Pegula just missing out on the chance to become the most recent home US Open winner, we look at the last four players to be home champions at a women’s singles major.

Australian Open: Ashleigh Barty, 2022

You have to go back just two years to find the last Australian woman to win the Australian Open title – thanks to Barty’s memorable run to the title in 2022.

Already a French Open and Wimbledon champion, Barty entered the tournament as a significant title favourite and as the world No 1 – though had suffered shock losses in 2020 and 2021.

Barty was rampant early on, not dropping a set through her opening four matches.

And she continued that form on her way to the final, defeating 21st seed Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys in the quarter and semi-finals respectively – both in straight sets – to reach the final.

Barty faced another US player in the final in the form of 27th seed Danielle Collins, and it looked like another surprise defeat could come her way down 1-5 in set two.

However, she steadied the ship and sealed the title in straight sets, prevailing 6-3, 7-6(2) to capture her final major.

It proved to be the final tournament of her career, retiring just weeks later.

French Open: Mary Pierce, 2000

Next year will mark 25 years since the crowning moment of former world No 3 Pierce’s career.

Pierce had lost the French Open final in 1994, though was a Grand Slam singles champion by Roland Garros in 2000 – having lifted the 1995 Australian Open title.

Seeded sixth in Paris, it was a largely comfortable start to the tournament for the Frenchwoman, who did not drop a set on her way to the last eight.

Pierce fell a set down to former champion and third seed Monica Seles in the last eight, though rallied to triumph in three sets – and then battled past top seed Martina Hingis to reach the final.

Facing fifth seed and fellow one-time major winner Conchita Martinez in the final, Pierce delivered one of the performances of her career – triumphing 6-2, 7-5 to capture the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.

She again reached the final in 2005, where she fell to Justine Henin – also making her the last Frenchwoman to reach the final in Paris.

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Wimbledon: Virginia Wade, 1977

Wade’s triumph at Wimbledon in 1977 remains one of the most famous triumphs in British sporting history.

Heading into the Championships, the British star was the third seed and a two-time major singles champion – though had not won a singles Slam since the 1972 US Open.

More eyes were on compatriot Sue Barker and defending champion Chris Evert, and Wade eased through to the last eight fairly untroubled.

Wade defeated sixth seed Rosemary Casals to reach a third Wimbledon semi-final, where she produced one of the performances of her career – stunning top seed Evert in three sets to make the final for the first time.

There were early nerves for Wade heading into the final, though she rallied to defeat Betty Stove 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 and lift her third major singles title.

Wade’s run in 1977 is still the last time a British woman made the final at SW19.

US Open: Coco Gauff, 2023

With Pegula falling in Saturday’s final, Gauff’s US Open triumph 12 months ago will remain the most recent home triumph in the women’s draw for at least another year.

The sixth seed in New York 12 months ago, Gauff came into the tournament as one of the favourites, having won both the Washington Open and the Cincinnati Open in the build-up.

She did not have it easy on, being pushed to three sets in three of her first four matches, though she saw off the likes of Elise Mertens and Caroline Wozniacki to make the last eight.

There, she crushed former major winner and 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko to reach the last four, where she downed 10th seed Karolina Muchova – in a rematch of the Cincinnati final – to reach the championship match.

Second seed Sabalenka stood in her way, though Gauff rallied to seal a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory, and capture her first major title.

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