US Open: With more confidence, Jessica Pegula aims to shrug off 2024 heartbreak

Jessica Pegula said she is approaching the 2025 US Open with a mix of pressure and renewed confidence after her painful runner-up finish last year, when Aryna Sabalenka beat her 7-5, 7-5 to win a maiden Flushing Meadows crown and third Grand Slam title overall.

The world No.4 has been one of the most consistent players on the WTA Tour, reinforcing her Grand Slam credentials with titles in Charleston and Bad Homburg this season, raising her career tally to nine.

Her 2024 campaign in New York, though ending in heartbreak, was a career highlight. She stunned top seed Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals and mounted a stirring comeback against Karolina Muchova in the semifinals, before narrowly falling short in a tense final.

Pegula has since spoken about how the energy of the Arthur Ashe crowd carried her through difficult moments, and she hopes to draw on that support once again.

“There's a little bit more pressure, but at the same time, (there is) a little bit more confidence. Coming into this swing last year, there wasn’t as much pressure, but I also was a little worried about how I would do,” Pegula said.

‘Don’t feel like I’m playing great tennis’

Jessica Pegula has endured a string of disappointing results recently. At the 2025 Citi Open, she lost 6–3, 1–6, 7–5 to Leylah Fernandez in the third round. At Wimbledon, the third seed exited in the first round against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6–2, 6–3.

Early losses followed at the National Bank Open and Cincinnati. Pegula acknowledged her struggles but emphasised her determination to overcome the slump ahead of the US Open.

“I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis. At times, I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. It really bothers me. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so I don’t like having to say that,” Pegula said.

“I feel like I’ve gone through phases in my career — a few tournaments — where I feel like that, sometimes, and you have to figure out how to get out of it and not feel sorry for yourself or make excuses. I’ve got to figure it out,” Pegula added.

In the US Open, Pegula will begin her campaign against Mayar Sheriff of Egypt on Monday, August 25.