Pegula comes back to beat Muchova, sets up US Open final showdown against Sabalenka

Playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, Jessica Pegula looked overwhelmed by the moment — and by an in-form Karolina Muchova — to put herself on the brink of elimination from the US Open.

Instead, Pegula staged a comeback from a set and a break down to defeat Muchova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a thrilling semi-final on Thursday night. The American booked her spot alongside Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s championship match by prevailing in two hours and 12 minutes.

PEGULA BEGINS COMEBACK WITH INCREDIBLE FOREHAND PASS

What was unquestionably the turning point of the second semi-final came with Pegula serving down 1-6, 0-2, 30-40. With a chance to go up by a double-break in the second, Muchova was in complete control of the point only to see her opponent come up with an incredible forehand pass. Pegula ended up holding for 1-2 and the comeback was on.

The 30-year-old broke in the very next game, saved another break point for 3-2 and broke again to seize a 4-2 advantage.

A back-and-forth affair saw Muchova recover for 4-4, but Pegula went on another streak of her own — reeling off five consecutive games to take the second set and pull ahead 3-0 in the third. Muchova was never out of it, but an extremely high-quality third set saw Pegula maintain her advantage the entire way.

“I came out flat, but she was playing unbelievable,” the world No 6 said. “She made me look like a beginner. I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing. She was destroying me.”

But then it all changed with the great escape at 0-2.

“I was thinking, ‘Alright. That was kind of lucky. You’re still in this.’ It comes down to really small moments that flip momentum.”

SABALENKA VS PEGULA FINAL A REMATCH OF CINCINNATI

Sabalenka and Pegula will be facing each other for the eighth time on Saturday, with the Belarusian leading the head-to-head series 5-2. They just squared off in last month’s Cincinnati title match, won by Sabalenka 6-3, 7-5.

Pegula had been bidding for back-to-back WTA 1000 titles, having previously triumphed in Toronto. Thus, Saturday’s showdown is undoubtedly a matchup between the two hottest players on tour.

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