"I wish Aryna Sabalenka would have at least let me get one set" - Jessica Pegula keeps her wits despite heartbreaking US Open final loss
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula played an electrifying final at the 2024 US Open on September 7. Even though the American came up short in a close encounter, she remained in good spirits and even joked about the scoreline.
Pegula began the title contest on the front foot with powerful groundstrokes, breaking Sabalenka in the third game to go 2-1 up. However, she was not able to hold the advantage for long as the Belarusian turned the tables by taking the next four games. Pegula tried to get momentum back on side but could not deny Sabalenka the one-set advantage.
The second set was another close affair. Both women traded multiple breaks of serve, with momentum shifting throughout the set. Sabalenka unleashed her fearsome forehand at the right time to break Pegula twice at the end of the second set and win her maiden US Open title 7-5, 7-5.
Jessica Pegula reflected on her performance and the match during the post-match presentation ceremony. The 30-year-old praised Sabalenka for playing incredible tennis and joked that she could have at least let her win one set. Pegula lost to Sabalenka in the Cincinnati Open final just days before the US Open and hailed the Belarusian as probably the best hard-court player on the WTA Tour after her win in New York.
"I wish she would have at least let me get one set. Oh God. We had obviously another tough match in Cincinnati a few weeks ago and she's been playing some amazing hard-court tennis, if not the best hard-court player in the world. So I knew it was gonna be challenging and tough. I mean, she's super powerful, goes for her shots," Pegula said.
Jessica Pegula acknowledged that she had done her best to push Sabalenka as much as possible, but it was not enough at the end of the day.
"She's definitely not gonna give you anything and, she can take the racket out of your hand a lot of times. So yeah, I was like happy I was able to fight back and give myself the chance, but in the end it wasn't enough, but I'm glad I was able to stay in it and keep giving myself opportunities."
Jessica Pegula to rise to World No. 3 after US Open runner-up finish
Jessica Pegula is set to receive a boost to her WTA Ranking after an incredible campaign at the 2024 US Open. The American will earn 1020 points as a result of her runner-up finish and climb three spots to become the World No. 3, which is her highest ranking.
Pegula has played the best tennis of her career over the North American hard-court swing. She won her third WTA 1000 title at the Canadian Open and finished runner-up at the Cincinnati Open. Despite deep runs at two big tournaments, there was no dip in form for the American at her home major.
Seeded sixth in the women's singles draw in Flushing Meadows, Jessica Pegula did not drop a set while defeating Shelby Rogers, Sofia Kenin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Diana Shnaider, and top seed Iga Swiatek to reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal. Pegula was made to work by Karolina Muchova in the semifinals but emerged victorious in a three-set battle to reach the title contest.