5th September 2024 – (Washington) In a riveting day of tennis at the US Open, American Jessica Pegula overcame world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a stunning upset, while Jannik Sinner of Italy dispatched Russia’s Daniil Medvedev to book their places in the semifinals.
Jessica Pegula, the 30-year-old American, has been a frequent quarterfinalist in Grand Slams but had never crossed the barrier into the semifinals until now. Facing the formidable Iga Swiatek, Pegula played with a mix of precision and power that seemed to unsettle the young Polish star from the start. Winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, Pegula disrupted Swiatek’s rhythm, a tactic that clearly paid dividends.
Reflecting on her repeated attempts to break past the quarterfinals, Pegula expressed a mix of relief and achievement. “I’ve been here so many times. I just kept losing, but I mean, to great players, to girls that went on to win the tournament,” she noted. Her determination was palpable as she added, “I don’t know what else to do. I just need to get there again and win the match.” And win she did, finally claiming her spot as a Grand Slam semifinalist.
Pegula’s next challenge will be against Czech player Karolina Muchova, who also advanced after a commanding performance against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, winning 6-1, 6-4.
On the men’s side, top-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner faced a tough challenge against fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev. In a match that showcased Sinner’s tactical acumen and resilience, he emerged victorious with scores of 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. Sinner, known for his baseline play, has been working on incorporating net play, a strategy that seems to be paying off.
“It was very tough. We know each other quite well. I know I can improve a lot, especially going to the net. I am very happy with how I have done it today,” Sinner remarked. His victory sets up a semifinal clash with Britain’s Jack Draper, who secured his spot by defeating Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
In the women’s doubles, the pairing of China’s Zhang Shuai and France’s Kristina Mladenovic proved too strong for the American-Czech duo of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova. After a hard-fought match, Zhang and Mladenovic advanced to the final with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
Zhang, a previous US Open women’s doubles champion with Samantha Stosur in 2021, is no stranger to the pressures of Grand Slam finals. “I believe I have the best partner in doubles, so I have nothing to worry about. I always know she will help me a lot, and I must try my best as well,” Zhang confidently stated.
The finals will see Zhang and Mladenovic face the No. 7 seeds, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok, setting the stage for what promises to be a captivating conclusion to the doubles competition.
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