2024-09-07 09:45:02
Never before has tennis great Jessica Pegula ever played in a grand slam semi-final.
Now after advancing to the U.S. Open finals, she says she’s living “a childhood dream,” defeating Karolina Muchova in three sets.
“It’s what I wanted when I was a kid. It’s a lot of work, a lot of hard work put in. You couldn’t even imagine how much goes into it… I’m just happy to be in a final, but obviously, I come here to want to win the title,” CNN quoted her as saying after her match.
For so long, that dreamed seemed out of reach. Six times previously she tried to advance to a semi-finals in a grand slam tournament and six times she failed.
Then Wednesday, she overwhelmed the number 1 seeded Iga Swiatek 6-2,6-4. However, as well as she played Wednesday night, she opened play horribly Thursday.
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“I came out flat, but she was playing unbelievable,” Pegula said. “She made me look like a beginner. I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing. She was destroying me,” she said to ESPN.
But Pegula dug deep and got herself out of her playing funk.
She won her three-match set 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
This after losing the first two games of the second set. All hope seemed lost. Then Muchova failed to convert on a second break of a serve.
‘I was thinking, alright that was kind of lucky. You’re still in this. And it comes down to small moments that flip momentum,” Pegula said, according to USA Today.
From there, Pegula regained control of the game and momentum had swung to her side.
She’ll play Aryna Sabalenka in the finals Saturday. They also met in the finals of the Cincinnati Open which Sabalenka won.
Hopefully,” Pegula said, “I can get some revenge out here.”
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