Pegula: "I’m very motivated to face Sabalenka here"

Jessica Pegula is more than earning her credentials to win a Grand Slam, and this US Open 2026 could be a suitable opportunity for her. The American does not shy away from that responsibility and, after emerging victorious from a great match against Emma Navarro, she is already thinking about the ultimate challenge ahead in the semifinals: Aryna Sabalenka.

She excites with her relentless dedication, her daily struggle to improve, and that consistency that characterizes her so much. Jessica Pegula has all the necessary arguments to be a Grand Slam champion and is just two victories away from achieving it at this US Open 2026. Her duel against Aryna Sabalenka could be a turning point in the career of a woman who could even leave New York as number 1 in the world.

This is what Jessica Pegula said after reaching the semifinals of the US Open 2026

The key to her victory against Navarro

"I didn't feel like I was playing so poorly during the points. It was more a matter of serve and return, serve, return, and the first ball. In those two situations, she was doing better than I was, and I feel like that's something I usually do very well."

"I was frustrated because I wasn't fully committing. I was all over the place, whether it was nerves, how she was playing, because the conditions were a bit slower, or just because I was having a bad day."

"I felt that was the main thing I had to change in the second set if I wanted any chance of getting back into the match and putting myself in a position to win. I'm glad I recognized it and made the change."

The rivalry with Sabalenka returns to the spotlight

The head-to-head between Pegula and Sabalenka stands at 4-9 in favor of the Belarusian, with tremendous battles contested between them. In the two times they have faced off in Flushing Meadows, Aryna emerged victorious, but in their last encounter at the WTA Finals 2025, it was Pegula who won.

"It's fun to see it as a rivalry. I think that's something that motivates me. I'm going to try to take what I did well in those matches, but also be aware that she is the number 1 in the world."

"She and her team do a really good job analyzing what they need to improve and what other players are doing against her. I think that's one of the reasons why she is number 1."

"She has been a rival who has pushed me to become a better player. I always respect and value that aspect of our rivalry."

Pegula is not taking Sabalenka's poor form lightly

"I think today's match probably gave her a lot of confidence after beating a top-level player like that. Winning a ten-point tiebreaker like that shows a lot of courage."

"I know she may not have had the best results this summer, but I also know that she has a lot of confidence playing this tournament and is looking to win three times in a row."

"I had a pretty terrible summer last year, and then I was able to play really good tennis here and win a set in the semifinals the last time we played. Sometimes the results don't matter as much. When you're a top-level player, you're there because you can rely on your experience and find your game in really tough moments."

How can Pegula defeat Sabalenka?

The American has clearly identified the patterns that work best for her against Sabalenka. Her goal will be to prevent the number 1 in the world from dominating rallies and force her to move constantly around the court.

"When I've succeeded against her, I've been able to play my best tennis by making her move, changing the direction of the ball, and taking the ball early. I don't want to let her dictate too much. I try to utilize her speed while staying aggressive."

"I think changing the direction of the ball, not being too predictable, and making her move and find good shots on the run is something I've done very well against her. She won't want me to do that, so it's always a back-and-forth between the two of us. I think I've just been able to play pretty aggressively and throw her off balance."

Jessica Pegula's words show a clear determination not to settle for this result and to take another step in her career, which could be this significant turning point in her life as a tennis player. The US Open 2026 faces semifinals full of excitement in which the American will attempt to defeat Aryna Sabalenka.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pegula: "Me motivo mucho enfrentarme aquí a Sabalenka"