Iga Swiatek & Casper Ruud win thrilling match tie-break over Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper to reach US Open mixed doubles final

Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud secured a tight 3-5, 5-3, [10-8] victory over Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper to advance to the final of the US Open mixed doubles. The all-European duo won the first match tie-break of the tournament and will be seeking the prize of their first mixed doubles Grand Slam and an additional million dollars later, against the winner between Errani/Vavassori and Collins/Harrison.

Just like on the first day, everything began with name announcements in the purest American style, with a notable light show for the arrival of the teams of Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek first, and the n Jack Draper along with local star Jessica Pegula. Everything was played indoors due to the rainy weather conditions in New York.

Local favorite Pegula shines, leading her team into first-set

The service was started by Casper Ruud, who managed to save his team from an early disadvantage, after saving two break points against him. Draper responded with a simple service game, before the biggest movements on the court began. With the women serving first, it was Draper/Pegula who managed to break Swiatek, but the 100% European duo quickly broke back to maintain a 2-2 tie.

Just like at the start, the men—Ruud and Draper—came through with their service games, both without problems, as the match changed gears and Pegula and Swiatek were the ones taking the lead. The Polish player was serving at 30-30 when a smash by Pegula near the net caused a challenge from Swiatek, which stopped the match for a few minutes. However, it was ruled a correctly hit point by the local player, and it ended up being key for them to break Swiatek's serve again.

This time, it was Pegula who had the responsibility and she responded well with good serves out wide to Swiatek's side and body serves against Ruud. An unforced error from the Norwegian on the American's serve ended the first set 5-3 in favor of Pegula/Draper, with a considerable difference in first serve percentage: 86% for the Americans against 58% for the Europeans.

Second set

Ruud and Draper started with the service games, both again fulfilling their responsibility. Swiatek was the most erratic until now and was the one who lost her service in the third game, facing Draper in most of the points. He took advantage of his power to overwhelm the six-time Grand S lam champion. In the next game, the Pole redeemed herself and was key to breaking Pegula's serve, leveling everything again at 2-2.

Ruud easily defended his serve and took the lead for his team, getting a couple of good points that gave them three set points, but they couldn't convert them after some good serves from Draper. For the first time in the match, Swiatek managed to defend her serve, and Ruud took the lead before breaking Pegula's serve again, this time winning the set 5-3 and sending the match to a decisive match tie-break for the first time in the tournament.

Match Tie-break

Everything began with a mini-break against Casper Ruud's serve, the first one he missed before a string of successful service points from the other three players. With the score at 5-3, everyone seemed to hold their serve, until a double fault from Swiatek gave Pegula and Draper a comfortable 8 -4 lead. The American had the opportunity to seal victory, but suffered two mini-breaks and saw her opponents close in dangerously.

Against all odds, Swiatek and Ruud won the last 6 points consecutively and ended up getting the victory by 3-5, 5-3, [10-8]. In the final, they await the winners between Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison and the Italian doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

Match Statistics Draper J / Pegula J vs. Ruud C / Swiatek I