"I don't even like to say it, it's awkward": Pegula on meteoric rise to becoming World Number Three

American tennis player Jessica Pegula has stated she has yet to come to terms with her being the new World No.3 on the WTA rankings.

The 29-year old made her top-10 debut after last year's French Open, and subsequently broke into the top 5 soon after, reaching her career high of World No.3 in October.

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Nonetheless, Pegula admitted although there is no pressure, she feels a "little weird" about the new ranking.

"Yeah, maybe at first I felt a little bit of pressure," said Pegula. "I don’t know, at the same time I feel the same, where I guess that’s good that I have approached every match the same way. Yeah, of course, maybe people talk about you more, you become a favorite more. But at the end of the day, I feel like when I’m out there, like that ever doesn’t really enter my mind.

"What enters my mind is just trying to win the match I’m in. Sometimes it can be easy and sometimes it can be matches like today. I think I’m very good at just not taking that part for granted or not overthinking that where I know every match is going to be tough."

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Furthermore, she stated her ability to handle pressure has helped her in winning matches, although the whole experience of being that high in the rankings was still something she was getting used to.

"I’m good at just thinking one match at a time," she added. "I think that’s helped where I haven’t felt really too much pressure as far as being top 5 and being able to maintain it somewhat pretty well, at least still winning matches.

"Yeah, it’s weird, it’s weird. I don’t know. It’s so weird to think that I’m like 3 in the world. I don’t know. It’s just weird (smiling). I don’t even like to say it. It’s awkward. I don’t know. I guess it’s a good thing,"