Key Takeaways
- Aryna Sabalenka eliminated Jessica Pegula in the US Open semifinals with a 7-5, 6-2 victory in New York.
- Jessica Pegula praised her opponent’s performance, stating, “She played insane. She played super high level. Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today.”
- Looking back on her bounce-back summer, Pegula noted her coach reminded her she has gone “22 and five” since her first-round exit at the French Open.
Aryna Sabalenka’s relentless power stifles Jessica Pegula in New York
Jessica Pegula saw her US Open run come to an end in the semifinals after falling 7-5, 6-2 to Aryna Sabalenka in New York. Despite entering the contest in sharp form, the American found herself overpowered by an opponent performing at the peak of her capabilities.
Speaking candidly to reporters in her post-match press conference, Pegula gave full credit to Sabalenka, suggesting it was “probably the best match she’s played this year.” The American added, “I mean, I thought her level was insanely high. Maybe she felt a little bit off at the beginning, but I felt like we were both playing well, serving well. And then, yeah, I don’t know who pissed her off today, but she I hopefully it wasn’t me, totally, but might have been, I don’t know. She played insane. She played super high level. Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today.”
Finding few answers against an unyielding baseline barrage
Pegula kept matters competitive through the opening stages, but Sabalenka continued to execute under pressure. Reflecting on the tight moments in the opening set, Pegula highlighted her opponent’s pinpoint consistency on crucial points.
“I mean, I think I had some chances and then it just seemed like she kept finding ways to hit some really good shots on big points, good second serves,” Pegula explained. “I honestly don’t know if she missed a backhand the entire match. Like I really want to check if I don’t think she missed a backhand. Maybe a few backhand returns at the beginning. And then, she just dialed it in like even the break point I hit a good return and she just rips a forehand cross and yeah, it just it was rough today. So, yeah, I did my best. I thought I didn’t play bad.”
Sabalenka also seized control of the baseline exchanges by taking the initiative immediately from the serve and return, preventing Pegula from moving her around the court. “I think she wanted to probably that’s her game plan,” Pegula noted. “You know, she doesn’t want to ever feel like the other person’s really dictating. You know, she’s much better I think playing her first one-two strike tennis, serve return, return next ball. That’s what she does best.”
Keeping perspective after a strong summer campaign
Despite the disappointment of falling short of the final, Pegula found comfort in the fact that Sabalenka’s level left very little margin. “Yeah, I mean, I’m honestly not that upset to be I mean honest. Cuz I don’t really think there was much I could have done today,” she admitted. Discussing the matchup challenges Sabalenka presents, Pegula observed, “I’m not quite like a Rybakina where maybe I can kind of serve my way out of trouble. I mean, I didn’t think I served bad tonight. I served actually really well. But I’m not quite Rybakina where I can serve myself out of trouble and I’m not quite a Coco that can rely on like insane athleticism.” She added that on the night, Sabalenka “probably would have beaten like 99 % of people.”
Pegula’s semifinal finish caps off a remarkably productive North American hard-court swing that included final appearances in Washington and Cincinnati. She reflected on a conversation with her coach regarding her resurgence since the spring: “Remember the French Open? I lost first round. And he’s like, ‘You’ve been 22 and five since then. Like that’s pretty impressive. Like don’t forget that.'”
With the Grand Slam season concluded, Pegula aims to carry that momentum into the final months of the year, targeting qualification for the WTA Finals and defending ranking points throughout the upcoming Asian swing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlV0_O20Jdw
WTA U.S. Open - Aryna Sabalenka's projected path
Sabalenka at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2026
Currently the world no.1, Aryna owns a composed 47-8 match record in 2026. Aryna is competing at the U.S. Open where she beat the world no.59 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 6-2 6-4, the world no.160 Polina Iatcenko 6-1 6-1, the world no.92 Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3 6-4, the world no.96 Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-3, the world no.6 Linda Noskova 7-6(1) 3-6 7-6 and the world no.3 Jessica Pegula 7-5 6-2.
Aryna Sabalenka will play the world no.2 Elena Rybakina in the final. Their record is 10-7 for Sabalenka.
Sabalenka conquered 3 titles in 2026 in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami.
Sabalenka won 24 titles in her career: 19 on hard courts, 3 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Jessica Pegula in 2026
Now the world no.3 (career-high), the American played her last match on the 10th of September when she surrendered to world no.1 Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 6-2 in the semifinal of the U.S. Open (draw).
Presently, during this year Pegula has achieved a composed 50-14 record. Jessica has won 2 titles in 2026 in Dubai and Charleston.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula squared off 14 times. Their current head to head is 10-4 for Sabalenka.
