Discover how Jessica Pegula’s remarkable resilience led her to secure a spot in the 2024 US Open Final. Explore her inspiring journey and achievements.
Introduction:
Finally, Jessica Pegula had snapped through the ceiling that was held over her for so long, into the first Grand Slam semifinal in her seventh attempt. But emotions were tempered because waiting for her on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night was the very formidable challenge of Karolina Muchova, a former Top 10 player. Pegula acknowledged she felt “flat” early in the match, never finding her rhythm to fight against the all-court craft of her Czech opponent. But true to a champion’s spirit, Pegula turned it around and recorded a hard-fought 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory to book her place in the 2024 US Open women’s final.
First Set Jitters
In the first set, Muchova’s versatility and tactical brilliance seemed too much for Pegula. Muchova’s inside-out forehand proved to be the eternal thorn in Pegula’s side as she was often made to react to her opponent’s stroke. Pegula was behind almost from the get-go, falling behind by a 6-1 score line in the first set and 2-0 in the second.
Her serve wasn’t clicking as desired, and she registered fewer winners compared to her Czech opponent. Muchova was aggressive all game long, with a bevy of well-placed shots and drop volleys that kept Pegula back. As Pegula said after the match, “I was just kind of flat.” It seemed like the shape of another maddening conclusion to a wonderful tournament was taking shape.
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A Crucial Turning Point
The turning point in the match came in a high-stakes rally in the second set. Muchova, already leading and with a break point opportunity, approached the net to finish a point with a forehand volley. The court was wide open, and it seemed Pegula was going to go down another break. But Muchova uncharacteristically hit her shot long, and this error gave Pegula the opening she was desperately seeking. That one missed volley in many ways provided a dramatic shift in momentum. “That seemed like that was a big momentum swing,” Pegula reflected. “I was able to just hold on to my serve there and find a way.”
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The crowd filled in, cheering her on, and Pegula’s energy was rejuvenated. She began running for everything, and a game that had seemed so out of sorts began to click. The range on her forehand was found, the attack on Muchova’s serve, and she began dictating points more aggressively.
Regaining Confidence and Control
The more rhythm Pegula found, the more confident she became. She turned into an aggressor, harrying Muchova’s serve and thereby taking control of rallies. Her game became sharper as her serve improved a lot. Pegula then started converting Muchova’s lapses in concentration as she found a way of winning more points with her strong forehand. She said, “After that, once I had some rhythm and started feeling more comfortable I was able to maybe play a little bit more aggressive, try and come in a little bit more, attack the serve, dictate with my forehand a little bit, and kind of find my game after that.”
But Pegula saved her best for the third, her shotmaking clean and confidence surging. Muchova, meanwhile, started to misfire, unable to sustain the level of game that overwhelmed Pegula early in the match. Almost two hours after the match began, Muchova’s final forehand went wide, and Pegula was into the US Open final.
Mental Toughness: Some Reflections
That’s one of Pegula’s mental strengths that has always accompanied her rise to the top in women’s tennis, and it was well reflected in this semifinal. She said she had gotten nervous many times before, but this time, she kept her nerves in check. She also said she wasn’t as nervous going into this match compared to her quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek. “I was trying to think that maybe it was good that I felt really loose, but clearly I was a little too loose,” she said. It was Pegula’s ability to adjust on the fly that told the story of how she overcame those initial struggles.
This has been the most consistent key to her success this season. Pegula was not in doubt, though, despite battling injuries earlier in the year, including to her neck and ribs that forced her to miss the clay-court season. “I don’t know if I thought it’s not going to happen, but there’s definitely moments where… I didn’t really know if I wanted to do it anymore,” she said. Still, she always managed to “flip the script” and come back swinging, which evidenced her quiet confidence and determination.
Facing Aryna Sabalenka in the Final
Now Pegula turns her attention to the final where she faces off against Aryna Sabalenka, an opponent she has met seven times previously. Pegula certainly has lost five of seven meetings to Sabalenka, including a defeat recently at the final in Cincinnati, 6-3, 7-5. However, Pegula has faith in an all-court game that can bother the hard-hitting Sabalenka. Hence, Pegula reflected on those left opportunities in Cincinnati and asserted that she can secure a win against Sabalenka.
“I’m just happy to be in a final, but obviously I come here to want to win the title,” Pegula said. The US Open title would confirm a dream come true for 30-year-old American Pegula, who admitted she would have laughed if someone had told her at the beginning of the year that she would have made this final. But now, having overcome so many obstacles, she stands a victory away from her first Grand Slam title.
A Childhood Dream Within Reach
For Pegula, this US Open final represents a “childhood dream.” Though the 29-year-old has become the oldest American woman in the Open Era to make a major final for the first time, she never doubted whether she was ordained for greatness. A credit to his work ethic and self-belief, his rise from a 25-year-old challenger into one of the sport’s elite is richly deserved.
Now with the home crowd and the momentum of a thrilling semifinal victory behind her, Pegula is in position to make some history. Now she turns her attention to Sabalenka, knowing she will take the court ready to “figure it out”-just as she always has.
Conclusion
The road to the US Open final has been less than straightforward for Jessica Pegula, but a resilient spirit, mental toughness, and the ability to adapt have brought her into a position of claiming her first-ever Grand Slam crown. Her win over Muchova was a seal to her fighting spirit, and now facing Aryna Sabalenka in the final, she stands just a game away from realizing the lifelong dream of a slam title. Whatever happens on Saturday, Pegula has already done enough to show that she clearly belongs in that élite group at the top of women’s tennis.