LONDON — Last year’s finalist Jessica Pegula is embracing the unpredictability of the US Open as she prepares for her latest attempt to capture an elusive maiden major in her home Grand Slam.
Pegula suffered six losses in Grand Slam quarter-finals before reaching the final at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre last year, where she went down fighting to Aryna Sabalenka.
But the New York-born 31-year-old, who was also the runner-up at the WTA Finals in 2023, said the challenge of facing difficulties alone, in front of the world, is what motivates her to play tennis.
“I think I love the individual aspect of it… the feeling that you get from doing it on your own I think is kind of unmatched to some other sports,” Pegula said according to Reuters.
“It makes it so challenging and so hard when you’re out there by yourself. But I think at the end of the day, competing and kind of backing yourself, because there is no other option, has always been to me the pinnacle of why I play.
“You have to be pretty fearless to go out there and accept that one of you guys are going to fail in front of the world by yourself on a court.”
Having 10 different champions in last 11 years also adds to the excitement around the women’s singles tournament in the US Open, Pegula said.
“I think going in, everyone is always excited that they have a chance to win… it just makes it much more open. I think you know that if you can play well and find ways to win, you can go deep here and anything can happen,” she added.
Pegula said the spectators can also play a role in how athletes perform in the US Open. “There are so many storylines I think of the crowd kind of taking people and carrying them through in whatever way you kind of embrace them… I don’t think you get that at the other Slams,” she said.
“It’s just very electric, rowdy, fun, a little bit chaotic. But I feel like it’s just New York kind of in a nutshell.”
Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, is hoping to end Jannik Sinner’s dominance of hardcourt Grand Slam events as the two rivals prepare to do battle again at the US Open.
World No 1 Sinner is chasing back-to-back US Open titles in New York to set alongside his Australian Open victories in 2024 and 2025.
The 24-year-old Italian has not lost a Grand Slam hardcourt match since being ousted in the fourth round of the US Open by Alexander Zverev two years ago.
Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in the Cincinnati Open final last Monday when the ailing Italian retired in the first set when trailing 5-0, said Saturday that ending Sinner’s Grand Slam streak would “be (a) great thing to do.”
“I think the last three Grand Slams on hard court he won, if I’m not wrong,” Alcaraz said. “It’s been unbelievable the tennis he’s bringing on hard courts.
“So, I just look up to him in some way just to be ready if I have to face him somewhere. It’s gonna be great. Hopefully, you know, meet him in the final. He has a big target, (on) his back.”
Alcaraz and Sinner’s rivalry has captivated men’s tennis in recent seasons, with the two men already facing off in two Grand Slam finals this year.
Alcaraz won a five-set thriller to claim the French Open in June before Sinner hit back to defeat Alcaraz at Wimbledon the following month.
Alcaraz also defeated Sinner in an epic five-set quarterfinal on his way to victory at the 2022 US Open.
