Pegula reaches U.S. Open semifinals

Jessica Pegula has advanced to the US Open semifinals for the third consecutive year, securing a hard-fought victory over fellow American Emma Navarro, who put up a spirited fight. Third-seeded Pegula triumphed in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, over Navarro in an all-American quarterfinal. The intense, gripping contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium, characterized by powerful groundstrokes, spanned two hours and twenty minutes, featuring a relentless baseline battle. Pegula demonstrated remarkable resilience and mental fortitude after dropping the opening set and recovering from an early, crucial break in the decisive third set. This marks her third successive US Open semifinal appearance, highlighting her consistent elite performance and tenacity at this Grand Slam. Pegula candidly acknowledged her serve was not at its best and she was "fighting a lot of demons out there" on court. Despite these challenges, she found her rhythm to level the match in the second set, taking control in the final set to secure her win. This victory is Pegula's 50th win of the season, making her the first female player on tour to achieve this significant milestone in 2026, underscoring her dominant performance. Pegula will now face world number one and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. This will be a rematch of significant clashes; Sabalenka defeated Pegula in the 2024 US Open final and last year's semifinals. The semifinal match is scheduled for Thursday. While pursuing her first major title, Pegula also has a chance at the world number one ranking, depending on other quarterfinal results, particularly involving Elena Rybakina.