Jessica Pegula stunned by US Open final berth after incredible comeback against Karolina Muchova

Jessica Pegula acknowledged her surprise at reaching the US Open final. The world No. 6 had an impressive run to the semifinals, winning five consecutive matches without dropping a set, including victories over 18th seed Diana Shnaider and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.

Her last challenge was the inspired Karolina Muchova. The Czech won the first set on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but Pegula overcame a 0-2, 30-40 deficit in the second set and went on to win 12 of the last 14 games of the match, securing an incredible comeback that took her to her first Grand Slam final.

The American has guaranteed a rise to world No. 3, just behind Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, her opponent in the final. "If you would’ve told me at the beginning of the year I’d be in the finals at the US Open, I would have laughed so hard, because where my head was, [I] was not thinking that I would be here," Pegula said in the post-match press conference following her win over Muchova.

"To be able to overcome all those challenges and say that I get a chance at the title Saturday is what we play for as players, let alone being able to do it in my home country, here at my home Slam. It’s perfect, really," said the recent Canadian Open champion.

Pegula has won 15 of her last 16 matches in the US Open Series on hard courts. Her only defeat came against Sabalenka in the Cincinnati Open final. The Belarusian was a finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2023 and will be aiming for her third Grand Slam title this Saturday against the American.

If Pegula wins, it could be the first time in more than 20 years that two different American players win the US Open consecutively, considering that Coco Gauff claimed the title in 2023. The last time this happened was in 2002 when Serena Williams dethroned her sister Venus Williams, the three-time defending champion.