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Andrew Cesare Richardson

Jessica Pegula reached her first grand slam final at the age of 30 after overcoming an “embarrassing” opening set to beat Karolina Muchova in the US Open semi-finals.
After breezing through the first set, it looked like the Czech would waltz into her maiden final, but the American came from a set and a break down to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“I came out flat, but she was playing unbelievable,” Pegula said of her opponent. “She made me look like a beginner.
“I was about to burst into tears, because it was embarrassing. She was destroying me.”
The New Yorker will face world No 2 and 2023 US Open runner up, Aryna Sabalenka, in Saturday’s final after the Belarusian beat Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6.

Muchova, runner up at the 2023 French Open but unseeded at Flushing Meadows, dominated an opening set which lasted just 28 minutes as she won eight of the first nine matches.
She was a point away from taking a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead in the second set but failed to convert her break point.
That was the turning point as Pegula grew in confidence and Muchova, who previously could not miss, was now struggling to hit a point.
“She was everywhere,” Muchova said. “She started to play way better.”
Before this match, Pegula had lost all six of her grand slam quarter-finals but carried on from her impressive victory over world No 1 Iga Swiatek.
“I was able to find a way, find some adrenaline, find my legs,” Pegula said. “And then at the end of the second set, into the third set, I started to play like how I wanted to play.
“It took a while. I don’t know how I turned that around.”
Meanwhile Sabalenka, who lost last year’s US Open final to home final to home favourite Coco Gauff, said she was getting flashbacks as the crowd backed US-born Navarro in their semi-final.
“Last year, it was a very tough experience,” the Australian Open champion said. “Very tough lesson.
“Today in the match, I was, like, ‘No, no, no, Aryna. It’s not going to happen again. You have to control your emotions. You have to focus on yourself’.”
Sabalenka was broken in the second set as she was serving for the match, but came through to seal victory in the tie break.
“I wasn’t ready for the match to be over,” Navarro said. “I kind of got my teeth into it there at the end of the second set and I felt I could definitely push it to a third but wasn’t able to do so.”
Following the match, Sabalenka acknowledged the crowd as they celebrated her victory.
“Well, guys, now you are cheering for me,” Sabalenka said with a laugh. “Well, it’s a bit too late.”
The final will pit Sabalenka against another American in Pegula, so she will once again have to overcome the crowd to seal a third grand slam and first US Open title.


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US Open (tennis)

US Open: Jessica Pegula reaches first grand slam final after ‘embarrassing’ first set

United States’ Jessica Pegula reached the final of the US Open, her first grand slam final at the age of 30. Photo: Reuters

World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka celebrates reaching the US Open final, as she seeks her third grand slam title. Photo: USA TODAY

After Jack Draper’s Andre Agassi-inspired shoes, some more US Open fashion statements

Britain’s Jack Draper celebrates beating Australia’s Alex De Minaur to reach the US Open semi-finals. Photo: Reuters

US Open: Jannik Sinner beats Daniil Medvedev in seesawing quarter-final, Iga Swiatek stunned

Jannik Sinner of Italy shakes hands with Daniil Medvedev of Russia after winning their quarter-final match at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Britain’s Jack Draper beat Alex de Minaur to reach the semi-finals without dropping a set. Photo: EPA-EFE

Jessica Pegula defeated world No 1 Iga Swiatek to reach her first grand slam semi-final. Photo: TNS

US Open: Frances Tiafoe sets up an all-American semi-final after Grigor Dimitrov retires

Frances Tiafoe of the US in muted celebration after winning his quarter-final match against Grigor Dimitrov, who retired hurt in the fourth set. Photo: Reuters

Frances Tiafoe (right) and Grigor Dimitrov hug at the net after the Bulgarian retired injured. Photo: AFP

Taylor Fritz of the US shouts to the crowd after defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Photo: AFP

US Open: Zheng Qinwen blames sleepless night for quarter-final loss, eyes China ‘prime time’

Zheng says she is looking forward to playing in Asia, where she will get more favourable schedules. Photo: AP

Aryna Sabalenka will play American Emma Navarro in the semi-finals. Photo: AFP

Sport

Tennis

The American came from a set and a break down to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows


The American came from a set and a break down to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows.
