Jessica Pegula has been making waves at the 2025 US Open, competing in both mixed doubles and singles events. Partnering with British star Jack Draper in the new-look mixed doubles event, Pegula showcased strong form, advancing to the semifinals. However, despite an impressive start, she described her experience as "weird" due to the unique challenges of transitioning between events and adjusting to the tournament conditions.
Mixed doubles journey ends in narrow defeat
Pegula and Draper, seeded number one, started the tournament in dominant fashion, winning their first two matches without dropping a set. Their momentum faced a stern test in the semifinals against the talented pairing of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. In a nail-biting three-set encounter, Pegula and Draper narrowly lost 5-3, 3-5, [8-10], falling just short of a place in the final.
Adjusting to singles competition
Following the mixed doubles exit, Jessica Pegula turned her focus to the singles event, acknowledging the challenge of quickly switching mindsets. During a pre-tournament press conference, she admitted,
“Yeah, it was a little weird. We lost, and the matches went kind of late. We didn’t even get to the last match. Had to practice the next morning. And yeah, feels weird.”
The 31-year-old also highlighted the adjustment required when moving back to women’s singles balls and outdoor conditions.
“Playing outside yesterday, it was really cold and windy. Definitely, yesterday I felt like I had to reset a little bit to get back into the conditions,” Pegula said.
Despite these challenges, she remained confident, noting that the extra days before her singles debut would allow for proper preparation.
Preparing for first-round singles match
Pegula expressed enthusiasm for returning to Arthur Ashe Stadium, describing the experience of playing there before the singles tournament as unusual but energizing.
“It definitely is a little bit of a weird kind of experience playing on Ashe with such great energy. But at the same time, I’ll be back there Sunday night,” she said, highlighting the benefits of early exposure to the stadium’s conditions.
Her first-round singles match is set for Sunday, August 24, against Egypt’s Mayar Sherif, a player Jessica Pegula has yet to face on the WTA Tour. With Sherif’s 0-4 US Open record, Pegula enters the contest as a strong favorite. Past successes at Flushing Meadows provide additional confidence as she aims to advance deep into the tournament.