Jessica Pegula has advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Diana Shnaider. This marks Pegula’s seventh appearance in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, but she is yet to secure a win at this stage, holding a record of 0-6 in major quarterfinals throughout her career.
The No. 6 seed, Jessica Pegula, whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, is currently on a hot streak, having won 13 of her last 14 matches, all on hard courts. She recently clinched her second consecutive title in Canada and reached the final at the Cincinnati Open, where she fell to No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Expressing the pressure she feels this year due to her previous successes, Pegula, 30 years old, stated, “I want to keep working my way and hopefully bringing my best tennis for the later rounds this time.”
Karolina Muchova also secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini, who was the runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon this season. Muchova had faced setbacks due to a wrist injury last year, requiring surgery and a 10-month hiatus from the sport.
Looking ahead, the quarterfinal matchups could potentially feature a rematch between Pegula and No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek, should Swiatek win her match against No. 16 seed Liudmila Samsonova.
Reflecting on her performance, Pegula shared her approach, “I’ve always played it like that. It just so happens to be (the) quarterfinals, but at the same time, to be able to say I’ve been in that position many, many times is great. So I just have to keep putting myself there and keep trying to play my game.”
Pegula’s strong performance against Shnaider included 22 winners, six aces, and successfully saving 7 out of 9 break points she faced. She also managed to claim five of Shnaider’s service games, showcasing her agility and prowess on the court.
