The atmosphere was electric at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday as Jessica Pegula orchestrated an incredible comeback to defeat Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, securing her place in the Grand Slam final for the first time.
The prospect of an all-American final had already been dashed when Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka triumphed over Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-6 (7/2). For a moment, it seemed the host nation might not have representation in the title match.
Pegula, making her debut in a major semi-final, initially struggled against Muchova, who dominated the first set and made Pegula look like an inexperienced player. However, Pegula found her rhythm and gradually turned the match around.
“It really comes down to small moments that shift the momentum,” Pegula reflected. “She made me feel like a novice, and I was on the verge of tears because it was so frustrating. I started playing the way I wanted to, though I’m not sure how I managed to turn it around.”
Pegula’s first set was marked by just three winners as Muchova, despite a recent wrist injury, showed impressive form. The Czech player seemed poised to continue her dominance after taking a 2-0 lead in the second set.
However, Pegula began to assert herself, breaking Muchova twice in the second set. Muchova managed to break back but faltered on set point with a double fault, giving Pegula a crucial opportunity she seized with determination.
In the final set, Pegula was unstoppable, winning the first three games and closing out the match with a powerful forehand return on her second match point. Muchova’s 40th unforced error sealed her defeat.
Muchova acknowledged the turning point, saying, “I had a break point for 3-0 in the second set but missed a volley, and everything changed. Jessica played incredibly well after that.”
Earlier, Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the final by overpowering Navarro, hitting 34 winners and sealing the match with a commanding overhead smash. Despite Navarro’s efforts and the support from the crowd, Sabalenka proved too strong.
Sabalenka, who was the runner-up to Coco Gauff last year, playfully engaged with the crowd after her victory, saying, “Now you’re cheering for me — wow, it’s a bit late. Even though you supported Emma, I still had goosebumps.”
The match was tightly contested, with both players exchanging breaks early. Sabalenka eventually gained control in the sixth game with a decisive forehand winner and maintained her advantage despite Navarro’s resilience.
Navarro, who had struggled in previous US Open appearances, admitted the occasion might have been overwhelming. “Maybe I didn’t handle it as well as I wanted to, but it’s an experience I hope to have again,” she said.
In another setback for home fans, Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defeated Americans Taylor Townsend and Donald Young 7-6 (7/0), 7-5 in the mixed doubles final, ending their impressive run.
Pegula’s remarkable turnaround and Sabalenka’s dominant performance set the stage for an exciting Grand Slam final, with fans eagerly awaiting to see who will emerge victorious.