Jessica Pegula fights back from a first-set loss to defeat Karolina Muchova and reach her first major final at the U.S. Open. She now faces Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Bollywood Fever: With the roaring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd behind her, Jessica Pegula overcame a first-set loss to defeat Karolina Muchova in the U.S. Open semi-finals on Thursday.
The American sixth seed battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the second set to secure a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory, earning her place in her first major final.
“I think the crowd really helped me get some adrenaline into me,” Pegula said after the match. “I was just very, very flat. I wasn’t even nervous.” Pegula credited the home fans for giving her the energy to turn the match around after a sluggish start.
The 30-year-old acknowledged that her opponent was playing at an extremely high level during the first set, leaving her without rhythm.
But Pegula found her stride by holding an important game, which fueled her adrenaline and helped her chase down every ball.
Despite feeling more nervous ahead of her quarter-final victory against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Pegula said she felt surprisingly loose before the semi-final, joking that she may have been “a little too loose.”
In the final on Saturday, Pegula will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated her in last month’s Cincinnati Open final.
Pegula believes she has a strategy to frustrate Sabalenka, emphasizing the need to get her opponent moving, serve smart, and apply pressure.
Winning the U.S. Open title would be a dream come true for New York-born Pegula, who expressed disbelief at how far she’s come this year. “If you would have told me at the beginning of the year I’d be in the finals of the U.S. Open, I would have laughed so hard,” she said.
Pegula is now one step away from achieving her ultimate goal: lifting the trophy at her home slam.
Also Read Latest Sports News, Ravens Fall Short Against Chiefs, Lamar Jackson’s Struggles Against Mahomes Continue
Nebraska Volleyball Bounces Back with Sweep Over The Citadel After Disappointing Loss
Jason Garrett Faces Backlash Over Bizarre Patrick Mahomes Comments