At the end of her standout 2022 season, Jessica Pegula faced a frustrating trend—reaching the quarter-finals in three of the four major tournaments but losing each time to the top seed. After yet another loss to Iga Swiatek at the US Open, Pegula humorously arrived at her press conference with a beer in hand, joking, “I’m trying to pee for doping… although it does help ease the loss.” The lighthearted moment went viral, reflecting her upbeat attitude despite repeatedly falling short of a semi-final spot.
It took two more years and six heartbreaking quarter-final defeats for Pegula to finally break through. In a fitting turn of events, she defeated Swiatek, the world No. 1, 6-2, 6-4 at the US Open, securing her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final appearance. “I’ve lost so many times, I just kept losing,” Pegula said, acknowledging her past defeats to top players. “I just needed to get there again and win the match. Thank God I was able to do it and finally say I am a semi-finalist.”
In the men’s draw, top-seeded Jannik Sinner is the last Grand Slam champion standing. He advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Daniil Medvedev in a hard-fought match, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, setting up a semi-final showdown with Great Britain’s Jack Draper.
Pegula’s triumph over Swiatek was particularly impressive. She employed a smart, tactical approach by hitting deep, flat shots down the middle, limiting Swiatek’s angles and attacking opportunities. Her movement was sharp, absorbing Swiatek’s aggressive strikes and patiently waiting for her own chances to go on the offensive.
While Pegula was on top of her game, Swiatek struggled with her serve and timing throughout the match, ending with 41 unforced errors. “I didn’t find the right solution,” Swiatek admitted. “You’re not going to win if you make so many mistakes. It’s on me.”
Pegula’s victory also marks a historic moment for U.S. tennis, as she joins Emma Navarro, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals. This is the first time since 2003 that multiple American players have reached the semi-finals in both the women’s and men’s US Open draws. Pegula will face unseeded Karolína Muchová, who reached last year’s semi-finals before undergoing wrist surgery. Muchová advanced by defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4.
In the men’s tournament, Sinner’s powerful groundstrokes and strong defense proved too much for Medvedev, who was below his best throughout the match. Although the momentum shifted wildly, with Sinner dominating the first set and Medvedev responding in the second, Sinner regained control in the third and fourth sets to claim victory. Medvedev, who hit 57 unforced errors, couldn’t keep up with Sinner’s intensity.
“It was very tough,” said Sinner after the match. “We knew it was going to be physical. I’m really happy.”
Sinner has now reached the semi-finals at all four Grand Slam tournaments, becoming the fourth active player and the only man under 35 to achieve this feat. His next challenge is Draper, a familiar opponent and good friend. The two have faced each other since their junior days and recently played doubles together at the Canadian Open.
“We are good friends off the court, so it’s going to be tough one,” Sinner said. “He’s playing incredibly well, so let’s see who plays better in a couple of days.”