Jessica Pegula isn’t competing this week in Adelaide…
After losing to Marta Kostyuk, 0-6, 3-6 in the semifinals of the Brisbane International, Pegula chose to withdraw from her next tournament.
She’ll return to the court for the Australian Open, where she will resume her search for a maiden Grand Slam title.
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During the latest episode of ‘The Player’s Box Podcast‘, Pegula shared an update on her fitness levels and opened up about her pre-season struggles.
Jessica Pegula says she had ‘a couple of injuries’ that affected her pre-season
“I didn’t have the best pre-season because I had a couple of injuries,” said Pegula.
“So I didn’t get a lot of good loading days for a consistent amount of time.”
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The American was happy to get a few matches under her belt in Brisbane, even if she did fail in her bid to win the title.
“I played like four matches in four days, it was kind of a shock to the system,” she said.
Jessica Pegula at the 2026 Brisbane International
- 2026 Brisbane International 2R [WIN] vs Anna Kalinskaya, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
- 2026 Brisbane International 3R [WIN] vs Dayana Yastremska, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
- 2026 Brisbane International QF [WIN] vs Liudmila Samsonova, 6-3, 7-6
- 2026 Brisbane International SF [LOSS] vs Marta Kostyuk, 0-6, 3-6
“It’s also pretty hot here, not like crazy, but just putting yourself in the summer of Australia…
“I had three really tough matches, [then] yesterday, I kind of got crushed, so that was at least quick. It’s tough.
“This week I definitely broke my body in really fast.”
Pegula then shared how she is feeling physically ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.
“I actually didn’t feel that sore, I don’t know why,” she said.
“I thought I was going to be a lot more sore than I was, so that was a win for me.
“But I was glad I had tough matches, because it’s one thing if you win a couple of easy matches, where you weren’t challenged, and you’re like that’s great, but to start the year, you always want to get through the really tough matches to test your nerve, test your fitness, and test yourself under pressure.
“I’m glad that I had three really close, tight, tough matches, with a lot of pressure games, pressure points. Because you can’t replicate it.”
The 31-year-old was pleased with the matches she played in Brisbane, as she now gears up for her seventh Australian Open main draw.
How well has Jessica Pegula played at the Australian Open?
Making her main draw debut in 2020, Pegula has since won 15 matches at the tournament.
That’s more than she’s managed at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Jessica Pegula’s Grand Slam record
| Grand Slam | Best performance | 2025 performance | Win-Loss record | Win % |
| Australian Open | QF – 2021, 2022, 2023 | 3R | 15-6 | 71% |
| French Open | QF – 2022 | 4R | 11-6 | 65% |
| Wimbledon | QF – 2023 | 1R | 8-6 | 57% |
| US Open | F – 2024 | SF | 23-9 | 72% |
Last year, Pegula lost in the third round to Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.
Her streak of three consecutive quarterfinals between 2021 and 2023 was impressive, though.
Jessica Pegula’s 2021-2023 Australian Open streak
- 2021 Australian Open 1R [WIN] vs Victoria Azarenka
- 2021 Australian Open 2R [WIN] vs Sam Stosur
- 2021 Australian Open 3R [WIN] vs Kristina Mladenovic
- 2021 Australian Open 4R [WIN] vs Elina Svitolina
- 2021 Australian Open QF [LOSS] vs Jennifer Brady
- 2022 Australian Open 1R [WIN] vs Anhelina Kalinina
- 2022 Australian Open 2R [WIN] vs Bernarda Pera
- 2022 Australian Open 3R [WIN] vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz
- 2022 Australian Open 4R [WIN] vs Maria Sakkari
- 2022 Australian Open QF [LOSS] vs Ash Barty
- 2023 Australian Open 1R [WIN] vs Jaqueline Cristian
- 2023 Australian Open 2R [WIN] vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
- 2023 Australian Open 3R [WIN] vs Marta Kostyuk
- 2023 Australian Open 4R [WIN] vs Barbora Krejcikova
- 2023 Australian Open QF [LOSS] vs Victoria Azarenka
Pegula will certainly hope she can rediscover that form in time for the 2026 tournament…
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 18.
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