Pegula Storms into US Open Semi-Finals with Commanding Win
Jessica Pegula has once again proven that Flushing Meadows is where she feels most at home. The 31-year-old American booked her spot in the US Open semi-finals after a straight-sets victory over Barbora Krejcikova, finishing the job 6-3, 6-3 in just under an hour and a half. It was a composed, no-nonsense performance, and it showed exactly why Pegula has quietly become one of the most reliable players on tour.
What stood out in this match was Pegula’s calmness under pressure. Krejcikova, a former French Open champion, struggled badly with her serve. She piled up seven double faults and landed only about 40 percent of her first serves. That gave Pegula plenty of chances to attack, and she didn’t waste them. While the Czech player unraveled, the American stayed steady, keeping her rallies clean and sharp, and feeding off the energy of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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The first set set the tone. Krejcikova opened by donating a double fault and dropping serve without winning a point. Pegula moved ahead 4-2 but briefly stumbled when her own serve faltered. Still, Krejcikova couldn’t capitalize, throwing in another double fault that Pegula pounced on to close the set in 38 minutes. From there, the momentum never shifted far.
The second set began the same way the first ended — Krejcikova broken at love, once again undone by her serve. Pegula wasn’t perfect, even double-faulting twice in a game, but she steadied herself with a crisp backhand pass and held firm when it mattered most. By the time Krejcikova pushed a forehand wide late in the set, the match was all but over. Pegula closed it out on her second match point with a calm authority that suggested she was never truly threatened.
It’s been a striking turnaround for Pegula. Not long ago, she was leaving practice courts frustrated after early exits in Montreal, Cincinnati, and even Wimbledon. But she pressed reset before this tournament, reminding herself to relax, even sharing that she spent time in an escape room with friends and had a couple of drinks to take her mind off the pressure. That simple step seems to have worked wonders. She hasn’t dropped a set in New York and has lost only 23 games across five matches — conserving her energy and confidence.
For a long time, Pegula was known for hitting a ceiling in major quarter-finals, losing her first six appearances at that stage. Now, she’s into back-to-back semi-finals at the US Open, proving that last year’s breakthrough was no fluke. She has already collected three titles this season across three different surfaces and ranks among the year’s winningest players, alongside names like Sabalenka and Swiatek.
Next up, she will face either world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Both are formidable obstacles, but Pegula looks more comfortable than ever playing on the sport’s biggest stage. Ten years ago, she admitted she never imagined being this good on the grandest courts. Today, it feels like she belongs there.
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