Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Jessica Pegula’s US Open Semifinal 2025 Breakthrough Puts Pegula in Rare American Company

Pegula reaches US Open 2025 semifinal, joins elite American company

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Jessica Pegula etched her name into tennis history on Tuesday, becoming only the third American woman after legends Chris Evert and Serena Williams to reach consecutive US Open semifinals after turning 30. The fourth seed dismantled Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-3 in just 1 hour and 26 minutes to secure her second straight final-four spot at Flushing Meadows.

For Pegula, who endured 22 major appearances without advancing beyond the quarterfinals, this milestone cements a remarkable late-career surge. “My biggest accomplishment last year was just getting past the quarterfinals,” Pegula reflected. “Now I can say I’ve done it twice.”

3 – Jessica Pegula is the third American to reach back-to-back Women’s Singles semi-finals at the US Open after turning 30 along with Chris Evert and Serena Williams. Home. #USOpen | @usopen @WTA pic.twitter.com/a5l0bVhHpT
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) September 2, 2025

Pegula’s Confidence Grows on Familiar Hard Courts

The victory also marked another statistical landmark. Pegula became the fifth American woman in the last 20 years to record 100 WTA match wins on home soil, joining Madison Keys, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, and Serena Williams. At 31, she has yet to drop a set in New York, a turnaround from a shaky Grand Slam season that saw her exit in the first round at Wimbledon, the third round in Paris, and the fourth round in Melbourne. Returning to hard courts has reignited her rhythm, and with each confident swing, her title aspirations grow clearer.

Jessica Pegula becomes the first woman to reach back-to back US Open semifinals without dropping a set since Serena Williams (2011-14) 😤 pic.twitter.com/KZ3TSardJP
— ESPN (@espn) September 2, 2025

“I’ve been able to kind of go into those matches and really take care of business,” Pegula said. “I think that’s also what’s given me a lot of confidence is I’ve played good players but (gotten) convincing wins over those players.”

She added, “I feel really comfortable. It’s crazy to feel this comfortable on the biggest court in the world with the craziest crowd and the best players. Ten years ago I never thought I’d be good at this, but I guess I am.”

Jessica Pegula came to play. pic.twitter.com/TOfYYXyOFx
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2025

Pegula’s quest for a maiden Grand Slam title now heads into its toughest stretch. If top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka defeats Marketa Vondrousova later Tuesday, the two will clash in a semifinal rematch of last year’s final, where Sabalenka denied Pegula her dream run. This time, though, Pegula arrives sharper and backed by the weight of history. Alongside Amanda Anisimova, she is one of only two Americans left in the women’s singles draw, carrying the hopes of a nation starved for its next Grand Slam champion.

Mandatory Image Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.