Jessica Pegula responds when asked if she thinks she is close to winning a Grand Slam after losing to Aryna Sabalenka

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Jessica Pegula made a bright start in New York, advancing to the final four without dropping a set.

Taking down Mayar Sherif, Anna Blinkova, Victoria Azarenka, Ann Li, and Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets, Pegula advanced to the US Open semifinals.

There, she met the world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who beat her in the final at Flushing Meadows 12 months earlier.

In a thrilling three-set semifinal, Pegula came up short against Sabalenka, losing 6-4, 3-6, 4-6 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

During her post-match press conference, Pegula was asked if she thinks she is close to winning her first Grand Slam.

Jessica Pegula ‘always’ believes she is close to winning a Grand Slam

The 31-year-old American seemed confident that a major title could still be on the cards for her in the near future.

“I always feel like I’m close,” said Pegula.

“I’m one of the top players in the world. I always feel like I can go out and I can beat these girls.

“Even though I maybe don’t have the massive weapon that some of them have or the flashiness that some of them have, I feel like I’m always right there every time I play them.”

Pegula then recalled some of her recent matches with Sabalenka, where, despite losing, she competed well.

“I felt like that when I played her the last time, even in Miami. Like we were trading breaks back and forth,” she said.

• 2025 Miami Open F – Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 6-2

“I never feel like I go out there and I’m getting blown off the court.

“Maybe the only time was when I played her in Cincinnati and she served, like Serena [Williams].

• 2024 Cincinnati Open F – Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 7-5

“I was like, it’s too good. Like, what am I supposed to do?”

Overall, Pegula believes she is close to winning a Grand Slam, and leaves New York with her head held high.

“I felt good against the top players, and I know I didn’t play a seed until I got here, but I was playing good tennis,” she said.

“Considering where my summer started and how it was going, how it was trending, I’m happy to walk away with putting in the effort that I was able to put in tonight against the best player in the world right now.”

The world number four still dreams of adding a major title to her trophy cabinet, but is time running out for the 31-year-old?

Jessica Pegula is the oldest player in the WTA top ten

Pegula, aged 31, is the oldest player ranked inside the world’s top ten, as she continues to compete with her younger rivals.

In fact, she’s one of just seven players aged 30 or above who sit in the WTA top 50 today.

WTA Top 50 players (30+)

• Jessica Pegula (#4) – 31
• Madison Keys (#6) – 30
• Ekaterina Alexandrova (#12) – 30
• Elina Svitolina (#15) – 30
• Magda Linette (#37) – 33
• Tatjana Maria (#42) – 38
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (#45) – 34

Her performances in 2025 have proven just how talented she is, but the fact is, she’s likely closer to the end of her career than the beginning.

Whilst the likes of Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff still have decades of top-level competition ahead of them, Pegula doesn’t have that same luxury.

She is, still, however, playing at the highest level and has proven the doubters wrong time and time again.

Pegula will have another crack at Grand Slam glory in Melbourne next year, when the Australian Open begins on Monday, January 12.