Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her match against American player Emma Navarro in the women's singles semifinals at the U.S. Open on Thursday, September 5, 2024, in New York. (Photo credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Jessica Pegula faced a rough start in her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal at the U.S. Open on Thursday night. Her opponent, Karolina Muchova, was in top form, leaving Pegula struggling. "I came out flat, but she was playing unbelievable. She made me look like a beginner," Pegula confessed after the match. She was nearly overwhelmed with emotions, feeling embarrassed by the way Muchova dominated her early on.
Muchova’s strong start seemed to foreshadow Pegula's exit, as she quickly took control, winning the first set 6-1. With Pegula seemingly out of rhythm, the Czech star showcased her versatile game, combining slices, net play, and serve-and-volley tactics to great effect. The first set was over in just 28 minutes, with Muchova winning 30 of the 44 points played.
Things looked bleak for Pegula early in the second set as well, with Muchova continuing her momentum and almost securing a 3-0 lead. However, Pegula found a lifeline when Muchova missed a crucial forehand volley. That small opening was enough for Pegula to shift gears and turn the match around.
Reflecting on that pivotal moment, Pegula said, "I was thinking, 'All right. That was kind of lucky. You're still in this.'" From that point on, the No. 6 seed began to play with more confidence, taking advantage of Muchova’s sudden decline in form. Pegula’s coaches advised her to mix up her serves and target Muchova’s backhand more, which proved to be effective. She gradually regained control, winning the second set 6-4 and then racing to a 3-0 lead in the third set.
Despite Muchova’s impressive performance throughout the tournament—where she hadn’t lost a single set until facing Pegula—her game began to falter. She racked up 33 unforced errors in the second and third sets combined, compared to just seven in the first. Pegula, on the other hand, found her stride and powered her way to a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, which had been relatively quiet during the first set, roared in support of Pegula as she staged her comeback. With this win, Pegula advanced to the U.S. Open final, where she will face Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the other semifinal.
Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up at the U.S. Open, had her challenges during her match. Navarro pushed her hard in the second set, but Sabalenka remained composed, drawing on the lessons she learned from her defeat in last year’s final against Coco Gauff. Determined not to let the match slip away, Sabalenka took control in the tiebreaker and secured her spot in the final.
Looking ahead to the final, Pegula is eager for a rematch against Sabalenka. The two faced off just last month in the Cincinnati Open final, where Sabalenka emerged victorious. "Hopefully, I can get some revenge out here," Pegula said, acknowledging the tough challenge ahead. Sabalenka's powerful, aggressive style has carried her to four consecutive finals on hard courts, including two Australian Open titles.
With both Pegula and Sabalenka in top form, the U.S. Open final promises to be an exciting showdown between two of the game’s fiercest competitors.
