By the time Jessica Pegula is done with her career, she could be one of the 10 most accomplished players in American tennis on the WTA. Yet, she doesn't do any one thing physically better than a lot of players. She does have two great strengths, however.
One is that she never gives up. She could be trailing in the third set, and still believe she can come back. A second is that she rarely beats herself. This was the case in the quarterfinals at the US Open against Barbora Krejcikova.
To be fair, Krejcikova is a lot like Pegula, only more successful. She has won a couple of Grand Slams, while Pegula is still chasing her first. Neither player thinks they are out of a match until the match is done. An opponent doesn't defeat them mentally.
Jessica Pegula defeats Barbora Krejcikova in the quarterfinals at the 2025 US Open
Pegula was playing some pristine tennis in the quarterfinals, just as she has throughout the US Open. She hadn't dropped a set entering the match, and she took set one 6-3 by playing efficiently. She had 12 unforced errors but nine winners. She was the more aggressive player, too.
In the second set, Krejcikova began by giving Pegula a lot of free points. She went down 1-4 and seemingly had no way back for a player who never gives up. At one point, though, she had three winners but 12 unforced errors. That isn't going to win a match against the American.
Krejcikova was able to get a break back, but remained down one. Even after raising her level of play, she was still playing from behind. Any real drama with the outcome of the match seemed to end after Jessica Pegula was able to hold to get to 5-3. At that point, the momentum appeared to be changing slightly toward the Czech player.
Pegula finished off the match with another break of Krejcikova to take the second set 6-3. She is playing in the kind of form that could get her a first major title.
Pegula reached the final at the US Open in 2024, but fell to Aryna Sabalenka in two tight sets. She might play Sabalenka in the 2025 edition as well, but that will come a round earlier. Pegula will next play the winner of the Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova match in the semifinals.