"I might not have the biggest titles compared to Sabalenka and Swiatek": Jessica Pegula opens up about chasing Grand Slam glory

Jessica Pegula admitted that she still feels one step behind Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek after repeatedly falling short in the race for major titles. The world No. 3 recently won the WTA 500 Charleston Open and is preparing to make her debut in Stuttgart against the winner of Magdalena Frech vs Sara Errani.

Since first breaking into the top 10 back in June 2022, Pegula has remained among the game’s elite, spending most of her time inside the top 5. The American has three WTA 1000 titles (and three more finals), in addition to being runner-up at the 2024 US Open (loss to Sabalenka) and the 2023 WTA Finals (loss to Swiatek).

While Sabalenka already has 3 Grand Slam titles and 8 WTA 1000 titles, and Swiatek boasts 5 Grand Slam crowns and 10 WTA 1000 trophies, Pegula’s record is still far behind, often falling in semifinals or major finals. “Very thankful that I’ve been able to be a top player for a few years now,” she said. “Even though I might not have the biggest titles all the time, maybe compared to Aryna [Sabalenka], Iga [Swiatek], someone like that, I feel like consistency is a strength that I have."

“Even though it’s not winning a Slam yet, I’m happy that I’m able to come in week after week and put up good results. I think that is kind of a strength in itself in a different way. So I’m very proud of that, yeah.”

“I always believed in my game, but I was always scared, I never wanted to have a big result and not be able to have consistent results,” she added. “I remember [after] the first time I made quarters of a Slam, I went to Doha, and I was in qualies. I was like, I don’t want to be that player that makes quarterfinals and then has kind of a breakout at your Slam, then loses in qualifying.

“It’s really hard when you have to back up results week after week, to feel like a top player. I surprised myself with how well I adjusted because honestly since then, I’ve been a top player. I did not think it was going to happen,” said Pegula.