Can Jessica Pegula Turn Grand Slam Dreams Into Reality? - UBITENNIS

Can Jessica Pegula Turn Grand Slam Dreams Into Reality?

Jessica Pegula is aiming to turn her Grand Slam dreams into a reality at the US Open.

By Tony Fairbairn
5 Min Read

Jessica Pegula has been one of the most consistent players on the WTA tour but will now hope New York is the place where she can become a Grand Slam champion.

Born in Buffalo, Jessica Pegula has always had ambitions to be among tennis’ elite.

Pegula’s rise to the elite of tennis came late on in her career but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for the American who is playing some incredible tennis.

Winning WTA 1000 events, always being present in the latter stages of tournaments has seen Pegula become a constant presence in the world’s top ten.

However Pegula unfortunately has a striking similarity with her beloved Buffalo Bills, which her family owns.

So close but yet so far when it comes to the big prize as Pegula has never achieved her Grand Slam dream.

In fact Pegula is yet to reach a Grand Slam semi-final having lost all six of her Grand Slam quarter-finals.

On some occasions Pegula has had some tough occasions but on other occasions, Pegula’s lack of composure has been exposed.

However this year Pegula has had her best preparation yet for the US Open having won the title in Toronto as well as backing that up in Cincinnati.

Given the fact that Pegula split with long-time coach David Witt at the start of the season, the American has done exceptionally well to put herself in a position to potentially be a Grand Slam champion after the next two weeks.

So can Pegula imagine herself being a Grand Slam champion? It’s safe to say the answer would be yes, “It would be awesome. It would be frickin’ awesome if I won a Grand Slam,” Pegula proclaimed in her pre-tournament press conference.

“I definitely allow myself to dream, I always have since I was a kid. So I think you have to take yourself to those moments. Yeah, it would be incredible, and I think it would be a lot of, not like relief, but it’s just like a reward for all the hard work.

“And being able to come through two weeks of a Slam, there are so many challenges you’re overcoming in those two weeks. So I think it would just be a relief of being able to overcome those challenges.

“I think that’s kind of what it is. And yeah, I would love to be able to say that I accomplished that. That’s always my goal going into a Grand Slam. And if it doesn’t happen, I mean, you just try to put yourself in the best possible space to make it happen, but you kind of know that you did your best and you tried your best, and that sounds cliché, but it’s really the only way you can keep moving on and keep competing.

“I think, again, every day is just a new day with a new set of challenges, and that’s kind of how I’m going to approach it, but would obviously love to be able to take home the title.”

Pegula is in good form and confident but in the past that hasn’t translated into Grand Slam success and only time will tell if that will happen again this year.

One thing is for sure though and that is Pegula will continue to put herself into opportunities until the end of her career.

Pegula’s Route To The Title:

R1: Shelby Rogers

R2: Emma Raducanu

R3: Katie Boulter [31]

R4: Danielle Collins [11]

QF: Iga Swiatek [1]

SF: Elena Rybakina [4]

Final: Aryna Sabalenka [2]

Leave a comment