Jessica Pegula’s US Open Struggles After 2024 Final Run

The bright lights of Flushing Meadows have always felt like home for Jessica Pegula, but this year the American star returns to the US Open carrying the weight of expectation alongside a puzzling dip in form. Just twelve months after her stunning run to the 2024 final, the world number four arrives in New York searching for the consistency that has recently eluded her.

Pegula has openly described the North American hard court swing as her favorite part of the season, a time when she thrives on home soil and her preferred surface. However, her build-up to the final Grand Slam of the year has been far from ideal. The Buffalo native enters the tournament having lost four of her last six singles matches, including early exits at Wimbledon, Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati. This uncharacteristic streak represents her earliest Wimbledon defeat in five years and has cast a shadow over her preparations.

How Can Jessica Pegula Regain Her US Open Form?

The challenge for Pegula is as much mental as it is technical. Following her breakthrough performance last year, where she defeated then-world number one Iga Świątek to reach her first major final, the landscape has shifted. She has acknowledged the increased pressure that comes with being a recent finalist, admitting her mindset is different this time around. The self-described perfectionist has expressed frustration with her “sloppy” and “up and down” performances, stating she must figure out how to break the cycle without making excuses.

The 2024 US Open was a definitive turning point in Pegula’s career. It marked her first major final appearance after previously being 0-6 in Grand Slam quarterfinals. That tournament also sparked a remarkable run of four consecutive major finals featuring American women, including championship wins for Madison Keys and Coco Gauff. Now, seeded fourth, Pegula must draw on the confidence from that past success to navigate a difficult draw and rediscover the dominant form that made her a contender.

Her journey back to the top of her game will require overcoming the sport’s elite, including current world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated her in last year’s final. Pegula’s powerful baseline game and tactical intelligence remain her greatest assets, but converting those strengths into consistent wins is the immediate task at hand.

The pressure of expectation meets the pursuit of perfection as Jessica Pegula aims to channel the spirit of her 2024 campaign and turn her season around at the US Open, proving that class is permanent even when form is temporary.

Must Know

What is Jessica Pegula’s current WTA ranking?
Jessica Pegula is currently ranked as the World No. 4 by the WTA. This seeding positions her favorably in the US Open draw, but her recent results have put pressure on that standing.

How did Jessica Pegula perform at the 2024 US Open?
Pegula had her best career Grand Slam performance at the 2024 US Open, finishing as the runner-up. She famously defeated Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals before losing to Aryna Sabalenka in a tightly contested final.

What are Jessica Pegula’s recent results before the US Open?
Pegula’s form has been inconsistent leading into the tournament. She suffered early exits at Wimbledon and the Washington Open in July, followed by second-round defeats at the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open in August.

What is the biggest challenge for Pegula at this US Open?
The primary challenge is overcoming her recent slump in performance and managing the increased mental pressure that comes with being a previous finalist, all while competing against a deep field of top contenders.

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