Iga Swiatek’s tough run of form continues, as she has just exited the US Open at the quarter-final stage.
However, one woman’s loss is another’s gain, and this time it is finally Jessica Pegula who gets one over on the 23-year-old.
Going into the match, the world number six had won just three of the nine meetings the two had shared, failing to ever beat her at a Grand Slam.
The odds were stacked against her.
However, in what has been an inspired winning run so late in the year, it was hard to account for such blistering form.
Iga Swiatek reacts to losing to Jessica Pegula
Speaking after her exit from the competition, the Polish superstar was unsurprisingly magnanimous in defeat.
After all, she is a true champion, but also conducts herself in a very reserved, minimalistic way that helps her keep her emotions in check.
One person who could not was Pegula, who after so long has achieved the unthinkable so late in her career.
Speaking about the American, Iga Swiatek admitted: ‘I have said before it is never easy to play against Jess. She has a tricky ball because it’s pretty low and flat. I wouldn’t say she changed a lot because it’s impossible to change her game style but she was for sure more solid than me and making much fewer mistakes, so she was putting pressure because of that.
‘Usually I am able to push it back or put pressure on myself but today I made too many mistakes.’
Jessica Pegula makes history at the US Open
At last, after so long having continuously fallen at the quarter-final stage, Pegula can finally brand herself a semi-finalist.
And she certainly earned it too.
Facing the world number one at the US Open, an event Swiatek has won in the past too, many feared for her chances, expecting another exit at this same stage.
But, this seemed like a different Pegula, and one far more fired up and determined than in previous years.
She was not to be denied, and continues her miraculous form which saw her win in Toronto, reach the final in Cincinnati and now potentially do the same in New York.
The American has been dumped out of Grand Slams at the quarter-finals six times during her career, but in finally beating Swiatek, she made personal history, and has also made it four players from the US across the men’s and women’s draw to reach the semi-finals.
Should she and Emma Navarro both win, a meeting in the final awaits, whilst Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz will battle it out for a spot in the grand finale.
Pegula gave her reaction after Tiafoe’s win which set up that latter clash.
Regardless, this quartet can all be proud of their accomplishments, but the job is not yet done.
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