NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula overcame a rocky start at the U.S. Open, rallying from a set and a break down to defeat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday evening, securing her place in her first Grand Slam final.
The sixth-seeded Pegula, a 30-year-old New Yorker, has demonstrated impressive form, winning 15 of her last 16 matches. She will face No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match on Saturday.
Sabalenka, the runner-up from the previous year, reached the final once again by fending off a late comeback from No. 13 seed Emma Navarro, winning 6-3, 7-6 (2).
The match began on a challenging note for Pegula. Muchova, who was the 2023 French Open runner-up but unseeded due to a lengthy injury recovery, showcased her remarkable versatility and creativity that make her a tough competitor across all surfaces.
Muchova dominated early, with ten of the match’s first twelve winners coming from her racket. She took the first set in just 28 minutes, winning 30 of the set’s 44 points.
Muchova surged ahead, winning eight of the first nine games, and was poised to break Pegula’s serve for a 3-0 lead in the second set. However, a missed break opportunity shifted the momentum in Pegula’s favor.
Once Pegula found her rhythm, she showcased the confident style of play that had previously taken her past top-ranked Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. Initially struggling, Pegula quickly dominated, winning nine of the next eleven games and racing to a 3-0 lead in the third set.
___
