Jessica Pegula overcame a sluggish start to defeat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the U.S. Open semifinals, earning her first Grand Slam final berth.
Pegula struggled early, admitting she was on the verge of tears as Muchova dominated the first set. However, she managed to turn the match around, winning 15 of her past 16 matches.
Pegula, seeded No. 6, will face Aryna Sabalenka in the final, seeking revenge after Sabalenka’s victory in the Cincinnati Open. Sabalenka reached the final by defeating Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (2).
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Despite Muchova’s early control, including winning eight of the first nine games, Pegula found her rhythm, mixing her serves and targeting Muchova’s backhand. After saving a break point at 0-2 in the second set, Pegula’s momentum shifted, taking control of the match.
Muchova, who had not dropped a set in the tournament, faded in the later stages, accumulating 33 unforced errors in the second and third sets, compared to just seven in the first. Pegula’s resurgence, backed by her family and a loud crowd, saw her take nine of the last 11 games to seal the victory.
In the other semifinal, Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up, held off a determined Navarro to return to the final. After losing a match point at 5-4 in the second set, Sabalenka dominated the tiebreaker, securing her fourth consecutive major final on a hard court.
Both finalists bring contrasting styles to Saturday’s match, with Pegula seeking her first Grand Slam title and Sabalenka aiming for her third, following two Australian Open triumphs.