Jessica Pegula Approaches Her First Major Semifinal at the US Open

Jessica Pegula’s journey at the US Open began with an emotional match against her close friend Shelby Rogers. Rogers, who announced that this tournament would be her farewell before retiring, faced Pegula in the first round, making the event especially poignant. After securing her victory in straight sets, Pegula found herself overcome with emotion, reflecting on their shared experiences growing up in the same junior tennis circles.

Pegula is currently the No. 6 seed and has had her own remarkable career trajectory. Despite being a late bloomer in the tennis world, advancing to her first major quarterfinals at 26 and breaking into the top 20 at 27, she has continually worked to become a top contender. Now at the age of 30, she is aiming for her first Grand Slam semifinal.

With the support of enthusiastic fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Pegula triumphed over the No. 18 seed Diana Shnaider, winning 6-4, 6-2. As she advanced to her seventh major quarterfinal, hopes were high that this might be the tournament where she goes even further.

During her post-match interview, Pegula noted, “I always say I just need to win a match to get to the semis and then that’ll solve everything, right?” She emphasized her approach to each match, regardless of the stage. By focusing on her game and taking it one point at a time, she’s confident in her capabilities.

However, the path to the semifinals will be challenging. Pegula’s next match is against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, a formidable opponent with five major titles to her name, including the recent US Open victory in 2022. The two players have faced each other nine times, with Pegula trailing 3-6 in their encounters. Still, having defeated Swiatek in the 2023 Canadian Open semifinals gives Pegula hope that she can replicate that success.

Pegula’s journey has not been without difficulties. In the beginning stages of her career, she battled significant health challenges, including a knee injury and hip surgery in 2016 that sidelined her for nearly a year. During that time, she questioned her future in tennis but ultimately chose to push through her struggles.

By the time she returned to the sport, her ranking had plummeted to outside the top 800. Despite this, she showcased her talent by reaching her first WTA final in 2018 and clinched her first title at the Citi Open in 2019. Rogers has always recognized Pegula’s potential, stating, “She always had some really easy, natural power,” emphasizing how relaxed Pegula appears during play.

In 2021, Pegula reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, marking a turning point in her career. Since that moment, she has consistently advanced to the later stages of Grand Slam tournaments. After her quarterfinal showing at the 2022 French Open, Pegula climbed into the top 10 and has established herself near the elite tier of women’s tennis with a career-high ranking of No. 3.

Despite her impressive ranking, 2023 has had its challenges for Pegula at the majors. She experienced early exits at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and an undisclosed injury kept her from competing during the French Open. Interestingly, this absence may have benefited her, as she feels more refreshed and prepared for the US Open.

Now, following a strong series of performances that included a title at the Canadian Open, Pegula has arrived in New York ready to compete. She showcased her skills against Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, winning their match decisively, and continued her form by easily defeating Jessica Bouzas in the third round.

In her match against Shnaider, Pegula displayed her dominance, managing to close out the victory in just 87 minutes, without dropping a set throughout the tournament thus far. She has won 13 of her last 14 matches, solidifying her status as a top contender.

As she prepares for the upcoming clash with Swiatek, the stakes are high. A win would see Pegula become the oldest American woman to reach her first major semifinal, while a loss would tie her for the most quarterfinal appearances without a semifinal berth in the Open era. Regardless of the outcome, Pegula remains focused on her goal of winning a Grand Slam title.

“It would be frickin’ awesome if I won a Grand Slam,” Pegula has expressed. She allows herself to dream big and is committed to pushing for that major accomplishment, reaffirming her dedication to the sport she loves.

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