"I think the semifinal might be the best match I’ve ever seen Jess play": Jessica Pegula's coach on her US Open run and loss to Aryna Sabalenka

Mark Knowles, coach of Jessica Pegula, joined Tennis Channel to reflect on her impressive performance at the US Open. Speaking on Women’s Day, Knowles shared insights into Pegula’s journey through the tournament, her preparation, and what makes her one of the most formidable competitors on the WTA tour.

Looking back at her run this year her coach said, "It was a terrific U.S. Open and ended up just a little bit short for Jess, but I’m so proud of her effort. She played really well against the world number one, pushed her to the limit, and you could argue maybe a little unlucky not to get through. There’s a reason Sabalenka is number one in the world, and she continues to show it.".

The interview quickly turned to a lighthearted story from the semifinals. Pegula had joked about Knowles’ birthday, suggesting he should see her take down a world number one as a gift. "I try to keep it quiet from her," Knowles explained. "Last year she didn’t find out it was my birthday before she took out Iga. This year, Mark Merklin let the cat out of the bag early, so she texted me, ‘I feel extra pressure, I got to deliver.’ I said, ‘Just the fact that we’re playing on my birthday, you’ve already delivered. Go out there, relax, have some fun.’ She didn’t get the win, but I was so proud of her.".

Knowles discussed Pegula’s season, which included three titles on different surfaces and a challenging summer. "She had high expectations going into Wimbledon after winning Bad Homburg, her third title of the season. Unfortunately, she had a tough loss in the opening round. The summer wasn’t what Jess expected, with many points to defend and a different schedule: Champion in Canada, Finals in Cincinnati, Finals at the Open. For Jess, it was about managing that and knowing what to expect. We were also working on a few things with Mark Merklin and the team to add to her game.".

A rough day of practice before the U.S. Open led to Pegula walking off mid-session, which Knowles said can sometimes be positive. "She got it together, and it’s testament to the type of player and competitor she is. The minute she played the first point at the Open, it was a completely different Jess. I think the semifinal match might be the best I’ve ever seen her play.".

Knowles also addressed an ongoing topic among players: the consistency of tennis balls. "It’s been the number one topic all summer. Jess felt the balls were playing differently week to week. She seemed very pleased with the balls at the U.S. Open. Consistency is key, but it’s tough. If a player doesn’t feel the ball, it affects execution," he explained.

Reflecting on the semifinal against Sabalenka, Knowles highlighted the competitiveness and high quality of the match. "Jess won 33 points in the third set; Sabalenka 131. Jess was over four break points. She didn’t drop another point on serve for the rest of the set, winning 16 consecutive points on serve. Sometimes, you just have to hand it to your opponent. Aryna goes for first-ball winners on every big point. Incredible confidence.".

Discussing Pegula’s movement and court coverage, Knowles said: "Her slices were good, drop shots were good, ball striking amazing, but Sabalenka took it to another level. For Jess to play her best, she has to move well. She joked, ‘It only took six weeks to finally start moving again,’ but she was moving as well as ever. Looking at the stats, it’s confusing to think she lost, but that’s the beauty of our sport. She continues to improve and doesn’t get discouraged.".

With the Asian swing ahead, Pegula’s focus is on representing the U.S. in the Billie Jean King Cup finals and preparing for Beijing, Wuhan, and potentially the year-end WTA Finals.