US Open 2024: Jessica Pegula Defeats World No. 1 Iga Swiatek to Reach First Grand Slam Semifinal
US open 2024 Updates: Jessica Pegula secures her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance by ousting Iga Swiatek in a stunning performance at the US Open.
Jessica Pegula finally broke through to the quarterfinals, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-4, in an incredible show of endurance. With the win, Pegula reached her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal and broke a run of six quarterfinal losses in her career, which included a loss against Swiatek at the same level two years prior
Jessica Pegula defeated Katie Boulter in Perth this January by a set and a double break. The match was lost by her. Two months later, in the first set in San Diego, Pegula defeated Marta Kostyuk 5-1. The match ended in straight sets for her.
Therefore, nothing was assured when Pegula took the court on Wednesday night in the US Open quarterfinals, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek by a double break in the opening set at 5-2. Not even following her disastrous run of form in which she won 13 of her previous 14 games. Not even with the Pole on the other end of the net spilling mistakes. And particularly not considering her record in Grand Slam events up to this point: 0–6 in the top eight, with a defeat to Swiatek in this very spot two years prior.
Now Jessica Pegula can put all of that behind her.
Regarding her quarterfinal hex, Pegula remarked, “I’ve been so many freaking times, I just kept losing.” “But to the girls who went on to win the tournament—that is, to great players.”
Holding her serve game at 15 to win the first game and stop her extremely skilled opponent from gaining crucial momentum must have felt good. This was Swiatek’s achievement, notwithstanding of the fact that she gave Pegula three unforced points (her 17th, 18th, and 19th of an uneven set).
About forty-five minutes later, she must have felt much better when she qualified for her first Grand Slam semifinal and, in the process, validated her entire season, which had been characterized by significant ups and downs.
After being questioned about it for the very final time, Pegula remarked, “I know everyone keeps asking me about it, but I was like, I don’t know what else to do, I just need to get there again and, like, win the match.” “Thank God, I made it through, and I can now officially announce that I’m a semifinalist.”
Pegula was successful right away because she played with the aggressiveness that Swiatek’s court covering needs and the accuracy that her low-margin groundstrokes required. She and Swiatek traded breaks in the second set, but she took the lead again in a tough 3-3 match in which the Buffalonian converted her third break-point opportunity.
At the conclusion of the first set, and much more so now, the capacity crowd started to build its collective voice to a crescendo, feeling something momentous.
With Swiatek serving at 3-5, Pegula made mistakes at 15-30 and 30-30, possibly sensing the moment herself. It would be up to her to finish the contest herself.
Pegula made it to 40-0. Thereafter, two Swiatek wins. There was no assurance.
At 40-30, Pegula’s Yonex delivered a “second serve” that reached 65 miles per hour.
“Aww, I was so tight,” Pegula remembered.
Still, it doesn’t matter. Shortly after, Pegula celebrated her victory 6-2, 6-4 in front of thousands of Arthur Ashe Stadium supporters in the United States and thousands more across the state of New York, who had long awaited her big break. It might have all been worth the wait as she defeated the top player in the world, who only lost one match to Pegula in their most recent meeting, the WTA Finals final match.
“I want to thank the audience,” Pegula stated. “You guys definitely got me through it.”
Both the supporters and Swiatek, who shared Pegula’s total of 12 victories and made 41 unintentional blunders, were undoubtedly helpful. However, the unwavering 30-year-old turned those elements into outcomes. She broke serve four times on eight attempts, and she finished second in Cincinnati and won a title in Toronto during her summer hard-court run. She also reached the semifinals of the US Open.
“It’s crazy to play Ashe in primetime against the best player in the world, but I knew I could do it. I just had to play my game and not get frustrated,” Pegula remarked. “At an early age, I was able to capitalize on certain areas in which she was struggling.”
Pegula’s defeats by Kostyuk and Boulter seem like ages ago. After the Australian swing of events, she parted ways with longtime coach David Witt (his replacement player, Frances Tiafoe, is still active in the men’s draw), but it took some time for her to start looking like the Top 5 player she was.
During her post-match press conference, Pegula said TENNIS.com, “After Australia, I was not okay.” “I was exhausted. I was worn out. I was sick two or three times at that time. I believe that I was just extremely exhausted, and my immune system was compromised due to everything—whether it was from the stress I had been under for the past several years or from traveling and other activities.
Thus, I made some little adjustments, made an effort to better take care of my body, and eventually started to feel better.
Since then, there have been setbacks, injuries, and an unmemorable Olympic Games. However, as Pegula stated, it could have required all of that internal conflict and introspection to shape her into the challenger for the crown that she is today.
“I believe I was prepared to leave by the time I was hurt. I believe that after I recovered and somewhat returned to normal, getting hurt only increased my appetite. I thought, “Well, this is bad.” I’m prepared and I want to be playing.
Thus, I believe that everything worked out and was helpful in a strange sense.
