Jessica Pegula calmly moved past Russia’s Diana Shnaider for the second time in a month at the US Open.
Jessica Pegula was asked countless questions against Russia’s up and coming, polka-dot wearing, new WTA hot-shot, Diana Shnaider.
Pushed around the court by the 20-year-old who raced from outside the top 100 to within the top 20 this year, the slightly sluggish Pegula of old was nowhere to be seen.
She advanced to the quarter-final stage for the seventh time since 2021 after a quality 6-4, 6-2 win – Her second beating of the Russian since her run to the title in Toronto.
Before facing Pegula, Shnaider was on a US Open roll, having only lost 13 games in her three previous matches.
Having thrashed Coco Gauff in Canada too, the 20-year-old was quickly and cleverly outwitted and outhit by her opponent ten years her senior, with Pegula joining compatriot Emma Navarro in the last eight.
Jessica Pegula relishes her much improved movement at the US Open
With her movement a factor that has contributed to her six previous exits in major quarter-finals, Pegula has committed hours to improve that aspect of her game.
She gleefully highlighted her improved movement to Tennis.com: “I’m moving a lot better the last month. It has really helped me stay into a lot of these points and these sets and these games and be super consistent.
“I’ve been serving pretty well,” the sixth seed said. “Even if it’s not working, I’ve been kind of getting myself out of service games by serving smart or serving well in big moments like today where she was returning really well.
“I would say those two things (movement and serve), if I look back to previous years, I’m doing better right now.”
With a quarter-final match against top seed Iga Swiatek, Pegula is going into the match as the underdog, despite her hot streak on the hard courts.
“I’m able to get pulled off the court but still not get behind in the point. I can get out of the corners and still be aggressive with my shots,” Pegula concluded.
What is Jessica Pegula’s record against Iga Swiatek like ahead of their US Open clash?
Her last meeting against the world number one made for grim reading, with the American winning just one game at the WTA finals in Cancun last year.
Trailing by 3-6 in their nine matches played, the 30-year-old has her work cut out if she is to finally break her quarter-final curse.
Previous quarter-finals have seen Pegula face difficult draws, with defeats to Swiatek in Paris as well as Ashleigh Barty in Melbourne just two of her tough last eight match-ups.
With Serena Williams giving Iga Swiatek a ‘positive kick’ in her third round win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Pegula’s quarter-final woes may well continue.
However, with her serene form and the pressure off, there feels like no greater opportunity for Pegula to strike.
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