Jessica Pegula Bests Victoria Azarenka At 2025 US Open

The tennis gods must have a twisted sense of humor. Just when you think Jessica Pegula has finally figured out how to cruise through early rounds without turning matches into three-set marathons, Victoria Azarenka decided to remind everyone why she’s a former world No. 1.

Pegula managed to escape with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over the two-time Grand Slam champion, but not before experiencing the kind of late-match drama that would make even the most seasoned tennis fans reach for their blood pressure medication.

Pegula’s Hot Start Sets the Tone

The American started this third-round clash like she was playing tennis on easy mode. Racing through the first set 6-1, Pegula looked every bit the player who reached last year’s US Open final. She broke serve immediately and never looked back, leaving Azarenka looking more like a recreational player than a former major champion.

The statistics from that opening set tell the whole story. Pegula fired three aces and 10 winners while Azarenka had four double faults and won a measly 36% of her first serves. It was the kind of dominant performance that had fans thinking this might be over in under an hour.

The Veteran’s Resurgence Nearly Derails Everything

But here’s where things got interesting, and by interesting, we mean absolutely nerve-wracking for anyone rooting for Pegula. Azarenka, despite clearly dealing with physical issues, suddenly remembered how to play tennis in the second set.

The 36-year-old Belarusian broke serve early in the second set and looked like she might actually force a deciding third set. For a moment, it felt like we were watching vintage Azarenka. The player who used to terrorize opponents with her relentless baseline game and mental toughness.

When Training Partners Collide

What made this match particularly fascinating was the fact that these two know each other’s games inside and out. They train together regularly in Florida, which created an intriguing dynamic where both players could anticipate each other’s moves.

“We train together a lot in Florida, so we know each other’s game really well,” Pegula said after the match. “I could tell she was struggling a bit physically, so I wanted to keep her moving and play aggressive.” That familiarity almost backfired on Pegula, though. Azarenka used her knowledge of the American’s tendencies to mount her second-set comeback, creating some genuinely tense moments that had the Arthur Ashe crowd on the edge of their seats.

The Final Push To Victory

The last few games turned into a break-fest that would have made any tennis purist cringe. Three consecutive service breaks followed as both players’ nerves began to show. Pegula had multiple opportunities to close out the match but kept finding ways to let Azarenka back in.

After saving three break points, Azarenka finally succumbed on the fourth attempt, but not before Pegula had given her fans a few more gray hairs with some uncharacteristic forehand errors. When Pegula finally sealed the victory with a break in the final game, you could practically hear the collective sigh of relief from her supporters. It wasn’t pretty, but in tennis, ugly wins often matter more than beautiful losses.

What This Win Means For Pegula

This victory keeps alive Pegula’s dream of winning her first Grand Slam title on home soil. The 31-year-old has been knocking on the door of major success for years, and after reaching last year’s final here, she knows she has the game to go all the way.

“My results haven’t been too amazing the last couple of months, so to be able to turn it around was awesome,” Pegula said with refreshing honesty. Her next opponent will be either compatriot Ann Li or Australia’s Priscilla Hon, both of whom represent significantly less dangerous threats than the wily veteran she just dispatched.