"I still have major anxiety that I've missed so many WTA 1000s this year" - Pegula on returning to the tour after injury scare

Top seed Jessica Pegula looked comfortable in her first round victory at the 2024 Libema Open s-Hertogenbosch, following an extended stay on the sidelines due to injury.

The American recorded a 6-2 6-2 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Tuesday. Pegula had been out of action since competing at the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in April, missing several big tournaments including the French Open. However, the World No.5 appears positive after fully recovering from the rib injury that saw her miss two months on the WTA tour.

"It's just such a crazy year with the Olympics squeezed in," admitted the 30-year old. "With my game, I'd rather be ready for grass and the rest of the hard-court season and grind out the rest of the year, than try and push it for clay and it doesn't feel well. That's why we played it safe.
"We were training as though I was going to play the French, but it was just a little too soon. I've been healthy for a few weeks now. If French had started a week later I would have been there for sure."

After dispatching of Sasnovich, Pegula revealed it was difficult being stuck on the sidelines as everyone else made progress. Nonetheless, she hopes to be fresher than the rest of the field for the second half of the grueling season.

"I know in the long term I can play at a high level and I know I don't need to play those matches to feel like a top player," Pegula said. "But at the same time when you see all those people going ahead of you, you do freak out a little bit. I still have major anxiety that I've missed so many WTA 1000s this year and I have a great record at 1000s.
"I'm fully expecting to grind out the hard courts, especially in Asia after the US Open. I didn't have to do that so much the last few years, but I'll have to go in fresh and with an open mind that I have to grind a little bit, which is fine."