Jessica Pegula will soon begin her run at the 2026 Miami Open, but she is well aware of the challenges she may face. Ahead of the event, she reflected on her struggles against top-five opponents, including Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina.
Jessica Pegula Notes ‘Frustrating’ Task of Handling Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina’s Power Entering Miami Open
Pegula remains among the leading American players on tour and has enjoyed a strong 2026 season. She reached the semifinals at the Brisbane International and produced a similar result at the Australian Open before losing to eventual champion Rybakina.
The American raised her level at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, navigating a difficult draw before defeating compatriot Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals and overcoming Elina Svitolina in straight sets in the final to clinch her first WTA 1000 title of the season.
At Indian Wells, Pegula reached the quarterfinals before being ousted again by world No. 2 Rybakina. Notably, Pegula had been on a seven-tournament semifinal streak, which Rybakina ended.
Pegula has often struggled against higher-ranked opponents. She fell to Gauff in the final of the Wuhan Open last year and was defeated by Sabalenka in the semifinals of the US Open.
Ahead of her Miami Open campaign, Pegula acknowledged the difficulty of facing top-five opponents, admitting that losses in major matches against Sabalenka, Rybakina, and Gauff have been challenging. She added that she is working to improve her game and adopt a more aggressive approach.
“It’s been tough. A lot of the big matches I’ve lost have been to them or Coco, or someone winning the tournament, or a top-five player, but I’ve done well in terms of improving my game and doing what I need to do,” she said.
“I’ve been playing a little bit more aggressive, serving a lot better, working on my movement, and figuring out different strategies/plays that I think work well against them.”
The 32-year-old noted that top players dominate with power and height, making matches difficult, but she believes she is close, can improve further, and still has the ability to challenge them effectively.
“But they are playing amazing tennis right now and rightfully the two best in the world. … I’ve been right there and super close. It’s hard, you know. They’re tall, big, and have huge serves, and sometimes it’s frustrating for someone not as tall. But I still think there is stuff I can do really well & keep improving to push them,” she concluded.
Pegula’s struggles against Rybakina and Sabalenka are reflected in her head-to-head records. She trails Sabalenka 9-3, while Rybakina holds a 5-3 edge. All three players enter the Miami Open as seeds and have received direct entry into the second round.
