‘In nick of time’ as Jessica Pegula sets up US Open title clash with Aryna Sabalenka
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Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates after defeating Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the US Open semi-final.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW YORK – Jessica Pegula is set to take on Aryna Sabalenka for the US Open title on Sept 7, but the American admitted that she was simply fortunate to get the opportunity to do so.
The 30-year-old scripted an astonishing semi-final comeback “just in the nick of time” to defeat Karolina Muchova on Sept 5, battling back from a set and a break down for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over her 52nd-ranked Czech opponent.
The prospect of an all-American final was scotched when Belarusian big-hitter Sabalenka earlier beat Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) and for a while in the later match, it looked like the US would be unrepresented in the title-decider.
“I thought I was lucky to still be in it,” said world No. 6 Pegula, who has made it to her first Grand Slam final.
“She made me look like a beginner, she was destroying me and I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing. But it all came down to small moments. I don’t know how I turned that around.”
She has now won 15 of 16 matches on the US summer hard-court swing, which saw a title in Toronto but crucially a loss in the Cincinnati final to Sabalenka.
“It’s a chance for revenge, but she’ll be tough to beat,” added Pegula, who has won just two of seven career meetings against the world No. 2.
“Cincinnati, she served unbelievable, and I felt like I still had chances in that match... I have to get her moving, serve smart, and try and put some pressure on her serve.”
Playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final after six painful quarter-final defeats, she had looked down and out at one stage after losing the first set in just 28 minutes, was quickly trailing 0-2 in the second and had to save break point to avoid slipping 0-3 down.
That was the cue for many spectators to leave the Arthur Ashe Stadium, not wanting to witness a second American defeat in quick succession, although there were also others who continued cheering her on.
Pegula then dug deep to spark an incredible recovery during a roller-coaster conclusion to a thrilling semi-final, as she raced away with eight of the last 10 games.
“I think the crowd really helped me get some adrenaline into me. I was super flat,” she said.
“But I was able to adapt just in the nick of time and to reach a final is a childhood dream. If you’d told me at the start of the year that I’d get to a Grand Slam final I would have laughed so hard at you.”
Muchova, a semi-finalist also in 2023 before going on to miss 10 months due to a serious wrist injury, committed her 40th unforced error of the contest on match point, sealing her fate.
Sabalenka, the runner-up to American Coco Gauff last season, went through to the final by seeing off Navarro as well as a partisan home crowd.
Navarro, playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, went down fighting when she clawed her way back from 3-5 down in the second set to force the tiebreak.
Her efforts were not enough in the end. Sabalenka cracked 34 winners to the 13 of the 23-year-old American, as the Belarusian moved one win away from a third Grand Slam title.
The two-time Australian Open champion, who had before the match jokingly offered the crowd a free round of drinks if they supported her over the home hope, teased the fans after the win.
“Guys, now you’re cheering for me. Wow. It’s a bit too late,” the 26-year-old said.
“It really means a lot and even though you guys were supporting her still, I had the goosebumps for you cheering. It was an incredible atmosphere.
“I’m really happy to see that in those key moments I’m able to stay focused, do my best and focused on my tennis.”
She added: “I don’t really care who I face in the final because today was a good test of the crowd cheering for my opponent. I’m ready to face whoever.” AFP, REUTERS
