Jessica Pegula explains why Sabalenka and Rybakina are the two standouts in women’s tennis

She started by saying: “I mean, I feel like they’re just so confident right now in, like, big pressure points. I mean, the amount of times they go for big second serves, or they go for big returns, or they hit a big one-two punch, like, serve, first ball, like rip a winner on a break point.

“Like it takes a lot of confidence to do that and I feel like those points they’re just playing really confident.”

Pegula also mentioned Rybakina’s serving display: “I mean her serve every time I play her. I always just feel like – I mean she had 15 aces today.

“Like I was looking at her other matches and she had like three or one and then today she hits 15. But maybe that’s…  Maybe she knows she has to serve bigger and go for her spots more because I’m a good returner.

“I don’t know but I would say for her whenever I play her the difference to me is the serve and first ball.  Aryna as well. 

Jessica Pegula doesn’t believe gap between Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka is too wide

Pegula, despite the results, believes she’s closer to the top two than the head-to-head records might suggest.

“I’m giving myself the chances and the opportunities, and I think I’ve elevated my game. I’ve gotten better, I’ve become a better player,” she said in her press conference. “I think that I am definitely challenging them, both of them, and that’s kind of all I can kind of ask of myself and then hopefully, you know, some of the wins will come along.”

She continued: “But at least I can say that, you know, I’m putting myself in a good position and even though I joked, I’d rather lose two and two than maybe win a match where I won more points. Deep down it’s nice to know that I am improving and challenging them.

“And that’s what keeps me passionate about the sport and keeps me excited to keep competing – to see myself get better and challenge them. They’ve been the best in the world. So how can be upset about losing to the top two?”

“I think there’s so many things right now going well for me. Again today even after losing a tough first set tiebreak where she hit like three drop shots at 6-6 when she’d already missed every single drop shot before that – at least against me.

SOUNDBITE: “At least against me anyway but even coming back after losing such an emotional first set from being down three games.”