World no. 6 Jessica Pegula has been taking the US Open by storm with her dominating performances this season as she makes her way into the final. The American has lost just one set throughout her campaign, making her the favorite in front of the home crowd against last year's finalist and World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.
Jessica Pegula has enjoyed the support of her loved ones throughout her career. Even this season at Flushing Meadows, her box has always been filled with family and supporters. This run was her best at any Grand Slam, as she had failed to move past the quarterfinal stages in her earlier appearances.
Jessica Pegula's husband Taylor Gahegn, her billionaire father Terry Pegula and her younger sister Kelly, a college tennis player, were all present to support her as she made her way to her maiden US Open final. Looking ahead to the final, Pegula said in her post-match interview:
"Playing Aryna is going to be tough. She showed how tough she was and why she's probably the favorite to win this tournament. It will be a rematch of Cincinnati, so hopefully, I can get some revenge out here. She will be tough to beat, but that's what the finals are for, so I'm ready."
Pegula and Sabalenka met each other on seven occasions before this fixture, with the Belarusian leading with five wins over the American. Her most recent win came in a straight-set final win in Cincinnati, which Pegula aims to avenge.
Jessica Pegula defeats Karolina Muchova to make her way into her first-ever Grand Slam final
Home favorite Pegula defeated Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, at Arthur Ashe Stadium to feature in her first-ever Grand Slam final.
Talking to ESPN's Rennae Stubbs after the match, Pegula said:
"First of all, I’m just happy I was able to figure this match out and turn it around on such a big stage. I was able to find some adrenaline, find my legs and then at the end of the second set, start of the third set, I started to play how I wanted to play. It took a while, but I honestly, I don’t know how I turned that around."
Muchova proved to be Pegula's toughest test so far. She was last year's Roland Garros finalist and has succumbed twice in the semifinals in New York following this year's defeat to Pegula.