"It's not like I feel like it's impossible": Jessica Pegula still believes in toppling Sabalenka and Rybakina

Jessica Pegula heads into the Miami Open on home soil in a place she resides and one where she hopes to unlock her top form again as she admits that she still holds the belief to beat the big names.

Sabalenka has been World No.1 since October 2024 having previously been World No.1 also for a short spell in 2023, while Rybakina just this week reached World No.2 in the WTA Rankings. The latter in particular has been the top earner and has the top points on the WTA Race showing her as being perhaps the best player in the world so far this year.

But Pegula has been the most in-form perhaps outside of those big names as she has won Dubai in February and has long been one of the best players in the world when it comes also to consistency levels. The American has repeatedly faced both Sabalenka and Rybakina in recent months albeit she has often lost.

Mostly to Rybakina as of late in the WTA Finals, Australian Open and Indian Wells and Sabalenka was a loss at the Miami Open in the final twelve months ago.

Speaking ahead of Miami, she believes she is an adaptation away from troubling those big names. “I think a lot of the matches I’ve lost, you know, big matches, have been more or less to them or to Coco [Gauff],” said Pegula.

“I’ve done really well as far as improving my game and kind of knowing what I need to do.

“I think I’ve been playing a little bit more aggressive. I think I’ve been serving a lot better. Always kind of working on my movement and figuring out different strategies and plays that I think will work well against them.

“But they’re playing some amazing, amazing tennis, and I think rightfully right now they are the two best players in the world, just by their results and the matches that they’ve had flipping back and forth at big tournaments and finals.”

Pegula said though that she has strong belief that she can continue to trouble the top women and that she has beaten them both before so isn't exactly a huge hoodoo.

“I’ve beaten them before, so it’s not like I feel like it’s impossible, but I do feel like they’re playing some really good tennis and they’re the people to beat.

“Just being able to believe in that type of stuff when I’m playing them in big moments and big points is kind of the difference. But I’ve been right there and super close.

“It’s hard. They’re tall, big girls with big serves, and sometimes it’s a little frustrating for someone that’s not as tall. But I still think there’s a lot of stuff that I can do really well and keep improving to keep pushing them.”