Jessica Pegula says what was ‘weird’ about her US Open semi-final win against Karolina Muchova

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Jessica Pegula recovered superbly against Karolina Muchova to reach her first-ever Grand Slam final at the US Open.

Pegula ‘frustrated’ Iga Swiatek in their US Open quarter-final match, with the American having previously lost her past six major quarter-finals before that win.

The world number six then needed a brilliant recovery to beat Muchova, with Pegula emerging victorious 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Pegula is trying to replicate Jannik Sinner on the court, and she is certainly doing a great job at Flushing Meadows in this moment in time.

But her hard-court form dates back to earlier in the summer, when the American won the Canadian Open and lost the Cincinnati Open final.

Jessica Pegula shares ‘weird’ US Open emotions

Pegula now faces a repeat scenario of that losing final in Cincinnati at New York, with Aryna Sabalenka also into the US Open final.

Revenge will be on the American’s mind as she looks to clinch the trophy, but Pegula has first analysed her latest victory in Queens.

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“It was weird because I feel like before the match with Iga was way more nervous,” Pegula said in her US Open semi-final press conference.

“Today I was more like whatever. But maybe that was bad because I came out super flat. I was trying to think that it was good that I felt really loose but maybe I was a little too loose.

“I don’t really know what happened, every day you feel different, some days you feel great and some days you feel super flat. You just have to deal with it. I’m sure playing back-to-back matches and back-to-back nights could have contributed as well.

“But I don’t really know, we’ll never know, but that’s the challenge of playing in a slam, it’s just every day you feel and wake up different.

“Everything can be different. It’s just how you adapt to that situation. I was able to adapt in the nick of time tonight!”

What has been Jessica Pegula’s route to the US Open final?

It has been a remarkable year for Pegula, who has been on quite the roller-coaster journey to the US Open final.

The world number six split with coach David Witt at the start of 2024, before neck and back problems interrupted her time on the court.

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Second round defeats were suffered at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, with Pegula missing the French Open entirely.

But the experienced 30-year-old has two titles for the year from Berlin and Canada, and boasts a 29/10 record.

At Flushing Meadows specifically, compatriots Shelby Rogers and Sofia Kenin have fallen to Pegula, along with Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Diana Shnaider, Swiatek and now Muchova.