"Okay, it's my time. You need to get off" - Jessica Pegula shares practice court hack which gives her slight edge over competitors

Jessica Pegula is recognised as one of the top WTA players in the world. She has enjoyed an illustrious career, which includes nine tour titles and a US Open final she achieved last year. Pegula has revealed a secret behind her success, which starts on the training courts.

The American has reached five finals this campaign, the joint-most she has achieved in a calendar year. She has come out on top in three of them, which includes the most recent one at the Bad Homburg Open against Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek. Success on home soil at the ATX Open and The Charleston Open sandwiched the Masters 1000 final defeat in Miami to world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

It is very important for players to practice and get in shape ahead of a match, especially in a major tournament like the US Open. Players undergo meticulous training and warm-up routines to complete before stepping onto the court. Pegula revealed that she 'puts the pressure' on her opponents when on court to move off it and allow her to use the space, willing to put her foot down to establish authority in the area.

In an interview with Tennis World USA, Pegula said: "I always kind of like to put the pressure on a little bit, because I feel like there are maybe some players that maybe aren't paying attention or don't know and they kind of linger. Sometimes when it's tough to get courts, you're like, 'Okay, it's my time. You need to get off.'"

She continued by saying that this method has surprisingly not led to many 'awkward encounters'. "But in my experience I have never really had too many awkward encounters. Some girls or guys even are pretty chill. Like, 'No, take your time, I'm still waiting for someone. You want to hit one more?' Maybe you ended on a bad shot. They are like, 'Go ahead, hit one more good one before you end.'"

The 30-year-old dazzled the New York courts this time last year, casuing a seismic shock in the quarter-finals after defeating world number one Swiatek before disposing of former 2023 Roland Garros finalist Caroline Muchova, but was unable to get the better of Sabalenka in the climax tie, sucumbing to defeat in two tight sets, both ending 7-5 in the favour of the Belarusian.

She spoke to CNN Sports ahead of a return to the event, sharing her excitement and delight to begin her defence of her final. "I love playing in New York, it’s so much fun. The energy there is really honestly unmatched, especially being an American and being able to play there. And not only play there, but have good results there and being able to go deep is something that is unlike anything else, being in New York City. So that’s always what I look forward to.

"It can be very hectic, but at the same time, it’s fun and rewarding and I just feel like every time I’m there, it’s just something special. I grew up going to that tournament and watching as a kid, so being able to play there on the biggest stages is just the best part about it."

She kicks off her campaign against Mayar Sherif in the first round later tonight on Arthur Ashe Stadium, under the pressure of defending her points from last year's triumphant final run. She is lined up for a tough draw, with a repeat of last year's final poised for one of the semis if everything goes to script.