Jessica Pegula Wants ‘Revenge’ In US Open Rematch With Aryna Sabalenka

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Jessica Pegula (L) of the United States and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus pose for a photo prior to their Women’s Singles Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 07, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Jessica Pegula will get her shot at revenge.

The world No. 4 will face No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open semifinals on Thursday in a rematch of last year’s final won by Sabalenka, 7-5, 7-5.

“I think it would be cool to be able to get revenge, obviously,” Pegula, the last American woman remaining in the draw, said after her dominant 6-3, 6-3 win over two-time major champion Barbora Krejčíková in the quarterfinals.

Sabalenka advanced to the semis via walkover when former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew with an injury.

Sabalenka, a three-time major winner, will be plenty rested for Thursday’s semifinals. She holds a 7-2 career edge on Pegula, winning the last three all in hardcourt finals, including the Miami Open earlier this year, 7-5, 6-2.

Still, Pegula, the daughter of billionaire Buffalo Bills and Sabres owner Terry Pegula, is playing some great ball and hasn’t dropped a set en route to the semis.

She also hasn’t played a seeded opponent.

“I think I’ve gotten somewhat of a favorable draw leading up to today,” Pegula said. “I think I haven’t really had to play anyone like matchup-wise as well that has really bothered me a ton, so I think that’s helped.

“But at the same time, I’ve been able to kind of go into those matches and really take care of business.”

She is bidding to become the third American woman this year to win a major after Madison Keys at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff at the French. Amanda Anisimova also reached the Wimbledon final before getting dominated 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek.

“I think this year I’ve come back with a different perspective, knowing that I wasn’t playing well, to really enjoy the fact that this is pretty cool and that I’ve had really good results here, and I have so much support,” she said. “So that’s been really nice.

“I think going into it if I was playing Aryna again, I would probably have that mentality instead of maybe being so focused on what I have to do so strongly instead of competing and enjoying the crowd a little bit more and enjoying the fact that I’m in this position again to possibly be in another final and I’m playing the best player in the world.

“I think there’s a lot other perspectives that I would take into it this time.”