Jessica Pegula’s Unforeseen Triumph Over No. 1 Iga Swiatek Propels Her to U.S. Open Semifinals

Jessica Pegula faced a barrage of questions leading up to her U.S. Open quarterfinal against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Why had she fallen short in all six of her previous Grand Slam quarterfinals? What could she do to finally break through? The doubts and expectations were ever-present, but the 30-year-old American didn’t let them weigh her down.

Instead, Pegula delivered a commanding performance at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night, upsetting Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 to secure her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal appearance.

“There have been so many freaking times, and I just kept losing,” Pegula said of her past quarterfinal struggles. “I didn’t know what else to do. I just needed to get there again and win the match. And finally—finally!—I can say, ‘Semifinalist.’”

Pegula to Face Karolina Muchova in Semifinals

Pegula’s next challenge will be unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, the 2023 French Open runner-up, who reached her second consecutive U.S. Open semifinal earlier on Wednesday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia. Muchova has battled injuries, including wrist surgery last year, but remains a formidable opponent.

“She’s great for the game,” Pegula said. “She’s so talented, so skilled. She’s a complete player with very few weaknesses.”

Swiatek Struggles as Pegula Dominates

Swiatek, a dominant force in women’s tennis, struggled with her serve throughout the match, particularly in the first set. She managed just 36% of her first serves in play, and her forehand was off, contributing to 22 unforced errors.

Despite Swiatek’s fight, Pegula’s strong defense and consistency proved too much. Swiatek praised Pegula’s game, saying, “It’s never easy to play against Jess. She has a tricky ball because it’s pretty low and flat.”

A New Era for American Tennis

Pegula’s victory is significant for American tennis, as she is one of two U.S. women to reach the semifinals. No. 13 seed Emma Navarro will also make her major semifinal debut against No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles. This achievement instills a sense of pride and hope for the future of American tennis.

On the men’s side, No. 12 Taylor Fritz and No. 20 Frances Tiafoe will face off in an all-American semifinal on Friday. This is the first time since 2003 that multiple Americans have reached both the men’s and women’s semifinals at the U.S. Open.

Swiatek’s Frustration Boils Over

Swiatek, the reigning U.S. Open champion, displayed her frustration throughout the match, slamming her racket against the net and smacking her leg after missing a forehand. Despite her resilience, Swiatek struggled to find her rhythm against Pegula’s relentless play.

“I feel like when I have high expectations, I never perform well,” Swiatek admitted. “But it’s hard to have low expectations when everybody expects something from you.”

As Pegula prepares for her semifinal clash, she knows the journey isn’t over yet. But for now, she has finally broken through the barrier that had long eluded her and isn’t done making her mark at Flushing Meadows.