US Open: Jessica Pegula stuns Iga Swiatek with 'all-around really good tennis' to reach maiden semi-final

Jessica Pegula has stunned world No. 1 Iga Swaitek to reach a Grand Slam semi-final at the seventh time of asking. Having lost at the quarter-final stage in her six previous attempts, the American was able to beat the 2022 champion in straight sets to make the final four, where she will now face Karolina Muchova.

Sinner and Pegula reach their first US Open semi-finals

Video credit: SNTV

Jessica Pegula is into her first Grand Slam semi-final following a stunning straight-sets win over Iga Swiatek at the US Open.

The New Yorker, who had lost at the quarter-final stage six times in previous majors, came into this match against the world No. 1 as the underdog but was in good form, having not dropped a set at Flushing Meadows so far this year.

She continued that blistering run with a 6-2 6-4 win over the 2022 champion to book a final-four spot against unseeded Karolina Muchova on Thursday.

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“I thought I played a really clean match, served pretty well, returned well. I feel like I didn't really do anything that bad,” the 30-year-old said afterwards.

“And was able to kind of jump on her really early and I think frustrate her, and was able to keep my level even when she picked it up in the second set.

“Yeah, I think I just played all-around really good tennis today.”

Pegula raced out of the traps to capitalise on a slow start from her Polish opponent, earning an early double break, and then recovering from 0-30 on serve to establish a commanding 4-0 first-set lead.

Swiatek seemed to find her range, ominously holding to love on her next service game, but Pegula refused to ease up and was able to maintain a decent pace to match, eventually serving out the set in 37 minutes.

Approaching the second with seemingly renewed belief, Swiatek took the opening game, but the errors crept back in and went long on her usually reliable forehand on her next service game to hand her opponent the break and a 2-1 lead.

However, if Pegula was thinking about the finish line, it proved premature as Swiatek’s trusty forehand returned to force an immediate break back and level in the set.

Feeling like a pivotal swing in momentum, Swiatek held for her first lead of the match, but Pegula powered back with a love-hold and seized control once more with another huge break following a lengthy seventh game.

In front of her home crowd on Arther Ashe, Pegula showed enough fortitude to see out the match, sealing victory on her third match point as her opponent’s wayward backhand sailed wide.

“It's just, like, winning a big match," she explained. "There's a lot of other variables; beating her, No. 1 player in the world, Ashe, prime time, trying to make a semi-final, knowing that I'm up, knowing that I'm playing well, I'm giving myself a really good opportunity.

“But, I mean, I've had some really good wins, I feel like, the last couple of weeks, and been playing some really good tennis. So at the same time, I still was pretty relaxed and felt like I was going to be able to get the job done.”

Pegula now faces world No. 52 Muchova, who reached a second straight semi-final in New York after defying illness to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4.

The Czech, who missed much of the season with injury, is also yet to drop a set so far at this year’s tournament, and Pegula is relishing the prospect of facing the ‘dangerous’ Muchova following their only previous meeting at the Cincinnati Open last month.

“Yeah, I mean, I'm a big fan of hers,” She said. “I think she's so good, so talented, so skilled as a tennis player, like, so complete. Doesn't have a ton of weaknesses. We played each other for the first time in Cincy, and I always laugh because she should be seeded but she never is.

“I finally had to play her first round. I was, like, damn it. But maybe it was a good thing in the end because now we get to play each other tomorrow, and hopefully it will be a good match.

She added: “It's cool to kind of see her back, because I think she's really great for the game and the way she plays is really fun.

“She's tough, great athlete, like I said, doesn't have a lot of weaknesses, and has been deep in these slams before. So I'm sure, I feel like too, she's kind of just happy to be back playing, and I think when you play players like that, they can be really dangerous.”

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