Jessica Pegula returns to US Open semifinals with victory over Barbora Krejcikova

NEW YORK—It hasn’t been the Summer of Pegula, but it could be the September of Jess.

After a four-tournament stretch that saw her win just two matches on preferred surfaces, the fourth-ranked American won for the fifth time at this US Open. Her latest victory, 6-3, 6-3 over Barbora Krejcikova, continued a sterling run of form and returned her to the semifinal stage in Flushing Meadows. She’ll face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka—her conqueror in last year’s final—or Marketa Vondrousova on Thursday night.

“I’ve been playing some really good tennis, quick starts,” said Pegula, who then referenced Krejcikova’s ability to bounce back at any time. “We all saw what she did against Taylor. “So, I’m glad we’re done.”

Pegula has won all of her matches in straight sets since losing in the semifinals of mixed doubles. She raced to a 3-0 lead as Krejcikova struggled with her opponent and the environment—not just the pro-Pegula crowd in Jess’ home state, but another presence from above: the sun. The 2024 Wimbledon champion paid homage to the nearby Mets with a swing and miss on an overhead, something you almost never see at this level.

Krejcikova would settle down and break serve, but Pegula got it right back, continuing to apply pressure with her trademark deep and flat groundstrokes. She served out the first set at 5-3, then immediately broke Krejcikova to open the second set with a backhand return winner.

Before serving down 0-2, Krejcikova had landed just 37% of her first serves in, and won just 23% of her second serve points (5 of 22).

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Krejcikova made one more push, reaching break point at 1-2—but even that was a result of two consecutive Pegula double faults. Undeterred, the crowd favorite saved the break point with a short slice off a Krejcikova drop shot. An unreturned serve and another Krejcikova error—the Czech would hit 22 in all—made it 3-1 Pegula.

Another Krejcikova error gifted Pegula a 4-1 lead, and while she would lose serve from 40-15 in that game, the result was still coming into focus. Many doubted Pegula’s chances for success at the Open, perhaps for good reason—but given her history, perhaps she should have been given the benefit of the doubt.

More to come from the US Open on Pegula’s run to the semifinals.