US Open 2025: Jessica Pegula reflects on 'crazy' journey after beating Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets to make semi-finals at Flushing Meadows
By Rhys Jones
Updated 02/09/2025 at 20:32 GMT+1
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Jessica Pegula booked her place in the semi-final of the US Open after a 6-3 6-3 win over Barbora Krejcikova in the quarter-final. She faces either Aryna Sabalenka or Marketa Vondrousova in the semi-final, with those two set to face off on Tuesday evening. "It's pretty crazy and it's something 10 years ago, I never thought I'd be good at this. I guess I am."
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Jessica Pegula beat Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 6-3 in the quarter-final of the US Open to advance to the semi-final.
She faces the winner of Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova, who are scheduled to play on Tuesday.
The American barely put a foot wrong in the opening games of each set, but Krejcikova held strong as Pegula wasted several break-point opportunities.
Despite Pegula's mistakes, she was still too clinical for her Czech opponent and deservedly booked her passage to the final four.
It was at the US Open last year that Pegula finally broke her duck of being unable to progress past Grand Slam quarter-finals, reaching the final at Flushing Meadows in 2024.
She lost to Sabalenka in two sets in that final, and may face her next in the semi-finals should the Belarusian defeat Vondrousova.
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Pegula came into the US Open with poor summer form, having crashed out before the quarter-finals in the DC Open, Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open.
But after those humbling defeats, the 31-year-old is enjoying a superb run in New York, and her fast starts in each match have been key to making the semi-finals.
"I think I've been playing some really good tennis," Pegula said after her quarter-final triumph.
"I've just been playing very solid. I've been having quick starts, so I really wanted to do that today, especially against someone like her who's very dangerous. Even at the end, it got really tight."
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Despite finishing the match in just under an hour and a half and in two straight sets, Pegula made it hard for herself as she failed to capitalise on numerous break points.
She was, of course, in control from the outset and for much of the match, and it was only late in both the first and second sets that Krejcikova looked capable of challenging her.
That was in part due to Krejcikova's returns, however, and Pegula was relieved to finish her off before the Czech could mount a comeback.
"She had a couple of really good returns when I was serving at 4-1 and then we all saw what she did against Taylor [Townsend]. I was happy that we're done.
"I just feel like I'm really comfortable, and it's crazy to look now and think that I'm really comfortable coming out here on big courts and big matches on the best court in the world, with the craziest crowd against the best player.
"It's pretty crazy and it's something 10 years ago, I never thought I'd be good at this. I guess I am."
The fourth seed is aiming for her first Grand Slam championship, and she and Amanda Anisimova are the only Americans left in the women's singles field.
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