Jessica Pegula is back to the US Open semifinal after beating 2024 Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 6-3 in just less than an hour and a half of play.
Pegula, seeded at No. 3, made a commanding start after claiming an early break and going 3-0 up. In the fourth and sixth games, the American had a chance to go up by a double break but missed on her chances. Krejcikova managed to get the break back in the seventh game, but the home star remained unfazed as she earned another break for a 5-3 lead before serving out for the opener in the following game.
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After taking the first set, Pegula further increased her lead after claiming breaks in the first and fifth games to go 4-1 up in the second set. While Krejcikova got one break back in the sixth game, it didn't change much since the No. 4 seed registered another break in the ninth game to seal the deal.
Pegula, who made her first Grand Slam final at the US Open last year, will battle against either Aryna Sabalenka or Marketa Vondrousova in the final at Flushing Meadows.
How doing 'an escape room' helped Pegula just before the US Open started
After struggling with her form for two months, Pegula didn't feel well either after her first practice at the US Open. She then simply decided to go out and have a few drinks.
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"I felt terrible coming into this tournament, honestly. I had a practice on Wednesday, and I literally - I think I hit with Sabalenka. She killed me. I was playing terrible... The day was really cold and windy. I was like, 'Yeah, I'm done for today.' So I walked off the court not very happy.' [I] went and did an escape room with my friends and had two drinks and was like, 'I need to just chill and stop getting so frustrated and overthinking all these practices,'" the 31-year-old shared two days ago.
If Sabalenka beats Vondrousova, we will have a rematch of last year's US Open final.
