'Would be cool to be able to get revenge': Jessica Pegula powers through semifinals, eyes vengeance against Aryna Sabalenka

Jessica Pegula is back in the US Open semifinals, and this time she is ready to settle old scores. After a commanding 6-3, 6-3 quarterfinal win over two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova, Pegula reflected on her run through New York with focus, pride, and determination.

In a post-match press conference for the US Open, Pegula reflected on her win and performance overall in the match by saying, "I thought I played a really solid match again. I started really hot and was able to keep the momentum, even with a couple of shifts in both sets. I felt like I didn’t let her get too comfortable today. I started off playing pretty aggressive, making her move a lot and pressuring her serve. Luckily, I was able to execute that throughout the whole match.".

Bouncing back from Wimbledon early exit

The path to the semis hasn’t been without its challenges. Pegula admitted that her summer was turbulent, following a first-round exit at Wimbledon, her earliest in a Grand Slam since the French Open in 2020.

"Wimbledon wasn’t great. I was frustrated because I had just won Hamburg and was playing so well. Then Iga [Swiatek] went on to win Wimbledon, and I felt like I was playing good tennis, it just didn’t translate at all in that first round. I played someone who was playing really well, and that sucked.".

She discussed how she had to simplify and rethink her tennis:

"So it was back to the drawing board. I had a few weeks at home, maybe overthinking what I needed to do on hard courts instead of just going back to what I know works. I lost some tough matches, to Leylah [Fernandez], to Sevastova in Montreal. I was trying a different string, doing too much. After another tough loss in Cincinnati to Magda [Linette], our goal was just to simplify things and get back on track. Honestly, even practices leading up to the week before here were a little up and down, but the goal was to get back to playing my game. I feel like we’ve been able to do that, and I’m happy that challenge was met."

Looking ahead, revenge and redemption

With her semifinal opponent featuring a repeat of the 2024 US Open final, Pegula is keeping her focus sharp. On a possible rematch with Sabalenka, she said bluntly: "It would be cool to get revenge. Honestly, I didn’t even remember the score, I think it was 7–5, 7–5, and I was surprised because I didn’t remember it being that close. After that match, I wasn’t thinking, ‘Oh, what a great run.’ I walked off the court telling my coach I needed to serve better, that I didn’t do this or that well. That’s just my mentality, to focus on how I can improve. But coming back this year, after seeing all the fan support and realizing how incredible last year actually was, I’ve got a different perspective. If I face Aryna again, I think I’ll focus more on competing, enjoying the crowd, and appreciating being in that position.".

Even as she acknowledges the difficulty of the remaining draw, Pegula keeps a level-headed approach. "From here, it just gets harder. Everyone left has either won a Slam or been to a Slam final. At this stage of a Slam, you expect that. But I’m just happy that I’ve been able to work my way even to this point, considering where I was a few weeks ago.".

Pegula is yet to drop a set this whole tournament, but Sabalenka will be her toughest task yet, especially considering how the Belarusian leads the head-to-head 7-2. Nevertheless, with the chance for redemption looming and a potential shot at revenge, she is writing her own story of perseverance, growth, and the thrill of competing at the highest level in hopes of snapping that 3 match win streak Sabalenka has over her.