Jessica Pegula had every reason to feel anxious heading into the 2025 US Open. Just days before the tournament began, a brutal practice session with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka left her questioning everything about her game. She was so frustrated that she walked off the court mid-session, convinced something was fundamentally wrong. Yet here she stands in the semifinals, having just dismantled two-time major champion Barbora Krejčíková with clinical precision, 6-3, 6-3.
How Did Jessica Pegula Transform Her Confidence on Her Home Court?
Following her commanding victory over the Czech player, Pegula revealed the secret behind her New York success and explained why Flushing Meadows brings out her best tennis.
“I feel like I’m just really comfortable and it’s crazy to look now and think that I’m really comfortable coming out here playing on big courts and big matches on the best court in the world with the craziest crowd against the best players,” she said in her on-court interview.
The transformation has been remarkable for the 31-year-old American. Pegula continued, “It’s pretty crazy, and 10 years ago, I never thought I’d be good at this, but I guess I am.”
That confidence showed in every aspect of her quarterfinal performance. Pegula was at her imperious best against Krejčíková, winning 71% of her first serves and breaking her opponent’s serve five times. The dominance was complete, leaving no doubt about who controlled the match from start to finish.
Pegula’s journey to tennis stardom hasn’t followed the typical path. Considered a late bloomer in the sport, she was already 28 when she began posting her first significant results and establishing herself among the world’s elite players. The winner of nine tour-level titles didn’t capture her first WTA title until 2019 in Washington, DC, proving that success in tennis doesn’t always come early.
What Challenges Nearly Derailed Jessica Pegula’s US Open Campaign?
The road to this semifinal appearance was anything but smooth. Pegula had been struggling with poor form throughout the summer leading up to her home Grand Slam, creating serious doubts about her ability to make a deep run.
Her preparation couldn’t have been more concerning. She exited in the first round at Wimbledon. She failed to reach the quarterfinals in any of the US Open tune-up events she participated in, including the Citi DC Open, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open. Each early exit added to the mounting pressure.
The lowest point came just days before the tournament began. Ahead of her quarterfinal match, Pegula revealed that she had felt completely lost during that Wednesday practice session.
“I felt terrible coming into this tournament, honestly. I had a practice Wednesday, and I think I hit with [Aryna] Sabalenka. She just killed me. I was playing terrible. Then we went out for a second hour, and I stopped halfway through and was like, ‘I’m done. This isn’t good. I don’t know why I’m out here practicing,” Pegula explained.
However, the magic of match play began working its familiar spell. Pegula emphasized that she felt more like herself on court after reaching the fourth round, with each victory building momentum for the next challenge.
“But after working my way into these matches and having some convincing wins, that’s always going to give me some confidence,” she noted.
Now in the semifinals, Pegula will face the winner of the match between world No. 1 Sabalenka and Markéta Vondroušová. The potential rematch with Sabalenka carries extra significance, as the Belarusian defeated the American in last year’s final at Flushing Meadows, where Pegula reached her lone Grand Slam final in 2024.
