Jessica Pegula turns emotional addressing parents, husband, sister & team after US Open final heartbreak: "Thank you for supporting me forever"

An emotional Jessica Pegula thanked her team, family, and fans for their unbridled support over the years after her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the 2024 US Open. Sabalenka defeated the sixth seed 7-5, 7-5 in an hour and 53 minutes her third Grand Slam.

Pegula came into Flushing Meadows on the back of successful campaigns in Toronto, where she won the title, and Cincinnati, where she made it to the final losing to Sabalenka.

En route to the summit clash, the sixth seed ousted Shelby Rogers, Sofia Kenin, Jessica Bouzas, 18th seed Diana Shnaider, and top seed Iga Switaek to reach the semifinals. She clinched an impressive win from a set down against Karolina Muchova to reach her maiden Grand Slam final. However, after a tough fight, it was the second seed, who carried the trophy in New York.

During the trophy presentation, Jessica Pegula thanked everyone who was seated in her box for supporting her 'forever'. The box included her coaches, physiotherapist, trainer, agent, brother, sister, and husband. She mentioned how the last few weeks had been crazy alluding to her achievements.

"Thank you guys over there in my box," she said (at 1:38). "Thanks to both my coaches, Mark and Mark, Seb on my physio, John, my trainer, my brother, sister, agent, husband, everybody that's in the box today."

"Thank you guys so much for supporting me over the last, you know, well, forever. But also the last couple weeks in the last month, it's been crazy."

Jessica Pegula also thanked her parents Terry and Kim Pegula and mentioned that she had a lot friends and family in the crowd but didn't know where everyone was. She also thanked her fans for coming out and supporting her at her home Grand Slam.

"And also too, I think my parents are also somewhere here. I have lots of friends and family that just came in to watch that are all kind of scattered around. I don't really know where they are."

"Thank you guys so much for coming and supporting me,I mean, it's been a long journey. So to, to be able to have your support here in the US, at my home slam is amazing. Thank you."

Jessica Pegula will become the new World No. 3 in the WTA rankings

Jessica Pegula (Image Source: Getty)

Jessica Pegula is set to re-enter the top 3 of the WTA rankings of her highly successful North American hard-court swing. The American has gained three places during the US Open jumping ahead of Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, and Coco Gauff. Gauff was the defending champion but her fourth-round defeat saw her going down from third to sixth in the rankings.

Another American who has made huge strides is Emma Navarro. She has jumped four places to enter the Top 10 and will be ranked eighth. And while Jelena Ostapenko has exited the Top 10, Ons Jabeur is set to leave the Top 20.

Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, will remain number two in the rankings behind Iga Swiatek.