"Sometimes it doesn't make any sense" - Jessica Pegula rules out surface change to US Open from Paris Olympics being a concern for players

Jessica Pegula recently dismissed surface change as a matter of concern for the players competing on the hard courts of the 2024 US Open after playing on clay at the Paris Olympics. This year, Pegula made her second appearance at the Summer Games after her debut in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics.

After falling to Elina Svitolina in the second round of the Olympic Games this year, Pegula had a couple of brilliant finishes in two hardcourt tournaments — the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open.

The former World No. 3 will enter the New York Slam on the back of a title win at the Canadian Open where she defeated compatriot Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the final. It was Pegula's second Canadian Open title, third WTA 1000 title, and sixth WTA singles title. She then had a runner-up finish at the Cincinnati Open as she lost the final 3-6, 5-7 to Aryna Sabalenka.

During a press conference ahead of the 2024 US Open, Jessica Pegula was asked if it was a challenge for players to transition from clay to hard surface. She expressed confidence in the players' ability to adapt, saying tennis is a sport where surprises happen every week, every tournament, and every Grand Slam tournament.

"I feel like it does and then it also doesn't. We've seen people all the time surprise us every single week, every single tournament, every Slam. Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason why someone maybe does well and then there are some people you see they're having momentum or see they're playing well here or they have a good draw or good matchups and they do really well," Jessica Pegula said.

She added that it would be "tricky" but manageable for the players to adjust from the clay courts to the hard ones.

"So I don't know if it really matters . I think sometimes it doesn't make any sense. I think it's a little tricky this year people coming from Paris. People are just a little bit maybe, I don't know, not as prepared, just with the surface change as well. I think once you get here and if you've had good results here especially or you like the hard courts or whatever it is, I think the players that play well here will find a way to do that I think no matter what," she added.

Jessica Pegula's best result at the US Open is reaching the quarterfinals

Jessica Pegula [Source: Getty]

Jessica Pegula achieved her best result at the US Open in 2022 when she reached the quarterfinals. She entered the tournament as the eighth seed and kicked off her campaign by defeating qualifier Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-2.

Pegula then overcame Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 6-4 and Yue Yuan 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-0 in the second and third rounds, respectively. She secured a spot in the quarterfinals by triumphing over 21st seed Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth round.

Pegula's impressive run ended in the last eight when the top seed and eventual champion Iga Swiatek beat her 6-3, 7-6(4).

This year, Jessica Pegula is seeded sixth at the New York Slam and will begin her campaign against compatriot Shelby Rogers, who will be playing her final tournament as a professional player at Flushing Meadows.