“That’s the goal, right?”: Jessica Pegula sets her sights on peaking at the US Open after Cincinnati win

Jessica Pegula has already made her biggest target for the North American hard-court swing clear. The world No. 3 advanced at the Cincinnati Open with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Simona Waltert, but the bigger picture is New York, where she has reached the US Open final and semifinal in the last two years.

The 32-year-old has remained inside the WTA's top five for several seasons and owns four WTA 1000 titles, yet she is still chasing her first Grand Slam trophy. She came closest in 2024, losing the US Open final to Aryna Sabalenka, before reaching the semifinals again last year.

Pegula enters Cincinnati with a 41-11 record in 2026 and two titles. She reached the DC Open final before losing to Eala and then fell in the Round of 16 in Toronto. Her opening win in Cincinnati gives her another chance to build confidence, with Emma Navarro waiting in the third round.

Her serve has been one of the more encouraging developments this season, while movement became a focus after a difficult Canadian swing. Pegula is now trying to turn those adjustments into a strong final build-up before the US Open.

Cincinnati has already played an important role in Pegula's career. She reached the final here in 2024 before producing her breakthrough Grand Slam run in New York, and she remains comfortable with the tournament's quicker conditions.

“I do like a little bit of a faster court. I remember a few years ago, I think actually the year I made the finals, they were really, really fast for those couple years," the American said to Tennis Channel about the conditions in Cincinnati. "They're not quite as fast now, but I still think they play pretty quick. You know, switching to the Wilson, where the women played with the regular duty ball, it flies quite a bit. So, I mean, I like the quick conditions, but I do feel like it is sometimes hard to control.”

That adaptability has been particularly important during a hard-court swing that has taken Pegula from Washington to Toronto and now Cincinnati. She did not want to dwell on her Canadian exit against Diana Shnaider, instead focusing on getting her body and movement back to where she wanted them.

“I wasn't really trying to think too much about Toronto," she added. "I think, you know, you gotta have a short memory and kind of turn the tables once you get to a new city.”

The American also stayed on court after her victory over Waltert to hit extra serves, continuing work on an area she believes has improved considerably.

“I do feel like I've been serving better this year. So I do feel a little bit more confident in that area, but yeah, it was a tough match. I think a little bit closer maybe than the score seemed. I'd never played her before, but she was a really good player.”

Pegula now faces Navarro, carrying an 18-10 record against Top-30 opponents this season into the matchup.

The American has also chosen to leave herself a full week before the US Open without another tournament. Rather than adding another competitive stop to her schedule, Pegula plans to arrive in New York early and use the time to train and recover.

“I am not playing the week before the Open. So I'll be in New York that whole week, which I think is what I've done the last few years and it's been a great lead-up for me. So I'll try to take advantage of that week.”

For Pegula, Cincinnati is still about winning. But she is also looking for specific improvements that can carry into the Grand Slam.

“Even though you're still in a tournament, you want to do well. I think for me, I just always have to feel like I'm improving and getting better. Nothing ever feels perfect and that's okay once you're out there doing a match, but I do kind of like to work on things and hopefully I can see some improvements this tournament and then kind of keep that rolling into US Open.”

After coming within one match of the title in 2024 and reaching the semifinals again last year, Pegula knows she can contend in New York. The next challenge is turning that consistency into the breakthrough she has been chasing.