It didn’t seem possible for Jessica Pegula to make it to the Grand Slam singles final in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night. Pegula’s chances were dwindling in her US Open semifinal match against Karolina Muchova, trailing by a set and two breaks; but, an astonishing moment of pure brilliance changed the tide.
The American’s stunning comeback was sealed by a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory, sending her into her first-ever Grand Slam final at 30 years old
The American remarked of her poor start, “I was about to burst into tears because it was so embarrassing,” before winning three sets against Karolina Muchova.
You now know what to do if you’re ever in the US Open semifinals and you’re only one point away from losing a set and two breaks.
From outside the sideline, you take a strong slap at a Hail Mary crosscourt forehand pass and hope your opponent misses the volley. Jessica Pegula taught us that on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium during her improbable upset victory over Karolina Muchova. The shot changed the course of the match, as did Muchova’s miss.
Muchova had been outstanding throughout the first nine games of the match up until that point. She was incapable of hitting the ball more precisely, playing with greater focus, or reading Pegula more accurately. Time and again, the American struck a deep shot, but Muchova zipped it back, stopping him one inch from the sideline.
The Czech displayed every skill she has, including full-cut groundstroke winners, power serves down the T, touch volleys, and half-volley drops. Pegula appeared to have given up on finding the answers by the beginning of the second set, as her head was hanging. With break points for 3-0, Muchova had a 6-1, 2-0 lead.
She was performing astonishingly. She really made me look like a rookie,” Pegula remarked to Rennae Stubbs on the court following the match. It was so embarrassing that I was on the verge of crying.
“She was ruining my life.”
However, Pegula held onto that 0-2 game long enough for Muchova to eventually chill down. She had a smash at deuce that she would have banged home earlier in the match, but she missed it.
Pegula remarked, “I found my legs, I found some adrenaline, and I was able to hold that game.” “I started to play the way I wanted to play in the second set and into the third.”
To put it another way, that method was to quit missing and discover her rhythm and range. Pegula corrected her unintentional mistakes without losing any speed on the ball. Muchova started to hit harder and more consistently, which caused her to leave the zone and start spraying the ball. Muchova saved two set points while serving at 4-5, 0-40, but double failed on the third.
Pegula continued to hit everything with machine-like accuracy in the decisive set, but Muchova bounced back and increased her own level once more. Pegula served at 3-1 and 4-2, but Muchova was on point with her excellent tennis, making two unbelievable crosscourt passes that had Pegula grinning.
However, Pegula managed to get out of trouble each time. By the finish, Pegula had not flinched and Muchova had fired her finest shot. At thirty-one, she advanced to her first Grand Slam final with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Pegula remarked, “That was kind of lucky,” referring to the desperate swipe that saved her life in the second set. “It all boils down to tiny moments that reverse momentum.”