Jessica Pegula helps USA break 22-year-old jinx at US Open after reaching 2024 final against Aryna Sabalenka
Jessica Pegula defeated Karolina Muchova to advance into the 2024 US Open final. With the American woman in the final and an all-American men's semifinal taking place, the US Open is set to feature a local player in both the men's and women's finals for the first time since 2002.
Sixth seed Pegula took on Muchova in the semifinal of the 2024 US Open on Thursday, September 5. The Czech player dominated the early proceedings and won the first set before earning a 2-0 lead in the second set. The Buffalo native stormed back into the match, winning 12 of the next 16 games to advance 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Jessica Pegula earned her 15th win in 16 matches to set up a first Major final clash against two-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka.
This is the first time since 2002 that both the men's and women's singles finals at the US Open feature an American competitor. While the men's final is yet to be decided, the all-American semifinal between 20th seed Frances Tiafoe and 12th seed Taylor Fritz guarantees an American finalist.
In 2002, however, all four finalists were American. In the men's singles, Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, and in the women's singles, the Williams sisters contested the final with Serena defeating Venus 6-4, 6-3.
Jessica Pegula becomes only third American woman aged 30 or over to reach US Open final, joins Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova
Jessica Pegula's adventure into the US Open final has added her to American tennis royalty. She becomes only the third American woman to reach a US Open final aged 30 or more after Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova.
Navratilova reached 10 Grand Slam finals including three US Open finals after attaining the age of 30. Meanwhile, Williams reached 16 Major finals after turning 30 out of which five were US Open finals.
Pegula, at the age of 30 years and 193 days, also became the oldest American woman to reach her maiden Grand Slam final.
She will take on Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday, September 7. The Belarusian got the better of Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6(2).
This will be the eighth encounter on tour between the pair and Sabalenka leads the head-to-head 5-2. Their last encounter came less than a fortnight ago in the Cincinnati Open final which Sabalenka won convincingly 6-3, 7-5. This will also be the Belarusian's second straight US Open final after she finished runner-up to Coco Gauff last year.