MATCH REPORT | 2024 US Open: Jessica Pegula reaches seventh major Quarter-Final, sweeps aside Diana Shnaider

Jessica Pegula is into a seventh career Grand Slam Quarter-Final after sweeping aside Diana Shnaider in straight sets at the 2024 US Open 6-4, 6-2. But can she finally get over the next hurdle?

Pegula has reached the Quarter-Finals of the US Open once before but has six other swings and misses in other tournaments. She has become well known for being the queen of WTA consistency but not being able to complete the feat at a Grand Slam.

Now it is go time with Pegula though having an ultra tough test next up as she faces either World No.1 Iga Swiatek or Liudmila Samsonova who hold a key potentially to a semi-final showdown with a resurgent Karolina Muchova.

But Pegula since the start of 2023 has won the second most hard court matches behind Iga Swiatek so is certainly a player to be feared. She eased past a tough test on paper in Shnaider who has been having the year of her life and is now well into the top 20 of the rankings anchoring a next generation.

But despite talk of it being a tough test, Pegula did what she does best and swatted that aside. Her first serve in particular was golden and it did damage against Shnaider. Speaking on ESPN about how that was a focus with her new coaching team Mark Merklein and Mark Knowles, it is certainly paying off.

Also she has only lost one match in the last 14 showing her form. As a result of this win too, she cements her spot as the American Number One again with Coco Gauff sliding after her loss to Emma Navarro who will be the next player to circle for that second spot in a battle with Gauff.

After spending most of the season off the court with illness and injury, Pegula like Muchova earlier in the night is finding her best when it matters most and made lightwork of a pretty tough opponent.