Jessica Pegula, World No. 6, got the proverbial monkey off her back with a US Open quarterfinal win over World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Before this win, Pegula was 0-6 in Grand Slam quarterfinal matches. The straight-set victory, 6-2, 6-4, happened in less than 90 minutes and put Pegula in her first-ever US Open semifinal.
Jessica Pegula Started Strong
Pegula jumped out to a quick lead in the first set, breaking Iga Swiatek’s serve two times. She took advantage of Swiatek not being sharp early. Swiatek did not serve well and committed many unforced errors. Jessica Pegula showed improved fitness, chasing down balls that she may not have been able to get to a year ago. Swiatek left the court after losing the first set 2-6.
Many fans expected a reset from Swiatek going into the second set. It was not to be. Pegula kept her nerves in check and continued to play her game.
Jessica Pegula Had Some New Tricks
Pegula and Swiatek have faced each other many times. They know each other’s game well. Swiatek owned the head-to-head record 6-3 coming into this match with five of those wins coming on hard courts. Their last meeting was at the WTA Finals in Cancun last November. Swiatek won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.
However, at the US Open, Pegula showed off a drop shot that had flair. ESPN commentators Chris Fowler and Chris Evert noted that they had not seen a shot like that from her before. Her defense has improved especially staying in points and exposing one of Swiatek’s weaknesses, the overhead shot.
The Offseason Coaching Change Worked For Jessica Pegula
Pegula turned 30 this year. She raised eyebrows when she announced that her long-time and successful partnership with her coach David Witt had ended. (After a brief stint with Maria Sakkari, Witt is now coaching Frances Tiafoe.)
Pegula is in a collaborative coaching arrangement with Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein. She explained earlier in the year that she felt new voices and perspectives were needed to elevate her game.
Karolina Muchova Is Jessica Pegula’s Next Opponent
Just as Pegula dealt with injuries earlier in the season, her next opponent Karolina Muchova has also. Muchova advanced to the US Open semifinals last year. She lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff. A nagging wrist injury kept her out of the WTA Finals in Cancun. After unsuccessful efforts to rehabilitate it, Muchova underwent surgery. She recently made her return after a ten-month layoff.
Muchova has played outstanding tennis in New York, but she hit a speed bump in the quarterfinals. Dealing with an illness, Muchova was forced to take many bathroom breaks. She defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, despite being visibly under the weather.
US Open Women’s Semifinals
The US Open women’s semifinals are scheduled for Thursday night September 5. Aryna Sabalenka faces Emma Navarro in the first match. Pegula and Muchova face off in the second match. There will be a maiden US Open champion in 2024. Could it be an American with two left in contention? Navarro and Pegula are both New York natives so the US Open spectators will give them plenty of crowd support.
Sabalenka is a two-time Australian Open champion and the odds-on favorite to win the US Open. She has come close before, losing to Coco Gauff last year in the finals. Is it her year? Or could Muchova, Navarro, or Pegula break through to win?
US Players Making Deep Runs At The Home Tournament
American tennis fans have loved this year’s tournament. In addition to Pegula and Navarro, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe have advanced to the men’s semifinals. Is it too soon to hope for American men’s and women’s singles US Open champions in 2024?
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