Swiatek Stunned After Pegula Hammers Her To Reach Maiden Grand Slam Semifinal

Jessica Pegula has finally broken her Grand Slam semifinal drought after defeating a below-par Iga Świątek at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Świątek’s uncharacteristic performance caught much of the tennis world off guard. The world No. 1 had cruised through her fourth-round match against Liudmila Samsonova without facing a single break point.

Following that win, Świątek was understandably confident, mentioning in her post-match comments how she had adapted to some of the different rules at this year’s US Open. Nevertheless, she appeared comfortable as she eased into the quarterfinals.

Świątek had dominated Pegula in their previous encounter, delivering a 6-0, 6-1 rout at last season’s WTA Finals. However, the American was expected to present a far tougher challenge at her home Grand Slam.

Pegula came into the US Open in excellent form, having defended her title at the Canadian Open by defeating Amanda Anisimova and finishing runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati.

The 30-year-old had not dropped a set in her first four matches in New York, and fans anticipated a tight contest. However, the first set turned out to be one-sided.

Świątek was broken in the very first game, hitting a double fault on break point to hand Pegula the advantage. Although the Pole pushed Pegula to deuce in her first service game, the American held firm.

In a surprising turn of events, Świątek double-faulted again on break point, giving Pegula a 3-0 lead. While the majority of the crowd supported Pegula, there was an air of disbelief at Świątek’s poor start.

Świątek’s game plan seemed off throughout the match. Pegula excels in rallies with a flat, consistent pace, while Świątek’s forehand typically features more spin. Yet, the world No. 1 surprisingly chose to engage in baseline rallies, playing into Pegula’s strengths.

The result was a lopsided first set, where Świątek managed only three winners compared to a staggering 19 unforced errors, losing 2-6.

After taking a lengthy bathroom break, many expected Świątek to adjust her strategy, but she persisted with the same flat shots that Pegula thrives against.

Pegula once again secured an early break in the second set, though Świątek briefly rallied to level the score at 2-2 with a brilliant forehand winner that clipped the sideline.

However, that momentary spark didn’t ignite a comeback. Pegula’s consistency from the baseline saw Świątek broken again at 3-3, marking the fourth time in the match.

Serving for a spot in her first Grand Slam semifinal at 6-2, 5-4, Pegula showed remarkable composure. Despite the pressure of her previous six quarterfinal losses, she calmly served out the match, sealing a 6-2, 6-4 victory and a memorable breakthrough.