Jessica Pegula Defeats No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Reaches US Open Semifinals

Earlier this year, Jessica Pegula faced uncertainty as she made significant changes aimed at improving her tennis performance. Those doubts, however, have been put to rest at this year’s U.S. Open, where she is not only showcasing some of the best tennis of her career but also advancing further in a Grand Slam event than she ever has before.

In a stunning display, Pegula, the 30-year-old daughter of Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula, secured her spot in the U.S. Open semifinals after delivering a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. This marks Pegula’s first breakthrough past the Grand Slam quarterfinals after six previous attempts, including a like-minded clash with Swiatek at the U.S. Open two years ago, where she lost 6-3, 7-6.

This tournament saw a transformed Pegula, who decided to part ways with her longtime coach David Witt following a disappointing performance at the Australian Open, where she exited in the second round. After missing out on the clay court season due to a rib injury, she returned to competition at Wimbledon, only to face another premature exit in the second round. It seemed like Pegula might not be a contender for the remainder of the year, but she turned her performance around following the Olympics. She successfully defended her title at the Canadian Open and reached the finals in Cincinnati.

Heading into her semifinal matchup against Karolina Muchova, Pegula has impressively won 14 of her last 15 matches. Despite this resurgence, she was considered an underdog against Swiatek, the reigning U.S. Open champion, who led their rivalry 6-3 before their latest encounter.

From the start of the match, it was clear that Pegula was fully in control. She displayed tactical brilliance and confidence, executing both forehand and backhand shots with precision. Her powerful, flat ball striking quickly put Swiatek on the back foot. Swiatek struggled to find her rhythm, committing an unusual number of unforced errors—41 to just 12 winners. Conversely, Pegula maintained a cleaner game, landing 65 percent of her first serves and making only 22 errors throughout the match.

In the women’s draw, only one Grand Slam champion remains among the final four: No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka. A two-time Australian Open champion, Sabalenka is set to face American Emma Navarro in the semifinals.

No matter the outcome of her journey at the U.S. Open, Pegula, the sixth seed, is guaranteed to leave the tournament as the highest-ranked American woman. Reflecting on her previous quarterfinal attempts, Pegula expressed relief and determination. “I just kept losing but to great players,” she shared on ESPN. “I know everyone keeps asking me about it; I just didn’t know what else to do. I just needed to get there again and win the match. Finally, I’m able to say I’m a semifinalist.”

As the excitement builds for her upcoming matches, Pegula’s performance is a testament to her resilience and skill. Her journey showcases not only her hard work but also the potential to capture a prestigious title at the U.S. Open, a feat she is more than ready to pursue.