“It definitely changed my perspective of what I could do at big events” – Pegula recalls run to Madrid final last year

One year after reaching her first WTA 1000 final in Madrid last year, Pegula returns as the No 3 seed

Jessica Pegula at the 2022 Madrid Open Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

April 27, 2023

World No 3 Jessica Pegula has said that reaching the Madrid Open final last year was a big step for her and changed her perspective of her own capabilities when it came to big events.

The American was ranked 14th coming into Madrid last year but went all the way to finals – her first at a WTA 1000 event. She believes that run, which included wins over Camila Giorgi (after saving a match point), Kaia Kapeni, Bianca Andreescu, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Jil Tecihmann, served as a launchpad for her to move into the game’s elite.

“I think that (match against Giorgi) kind of got me to the finals, to be honest, because I probably should have lost (to Giorgi) and it was a crazy match. That kind of turned the whole tournament around for me. So that definitely that match is a moment I remember very specifically,” Pegula said as per the tournament website. “That was my first 1000 final, definitely was a big step for me, let alone being on clay, I think was kind of a little bit of a surprise, to myself and other people. But it gave me a lot of confidence I think, starting the whole clay swing going into the French Open, it really helped.”

“It definitely changed my perspective of what I could do at big events. I was always close but I think making that final was a big deal. And I had a really good match with Ons Jabeur, who had a really great clay-court season that year. So definitely gave me a lot more confidence on the surface. And I think that helps when you’re looking at the year, knowing that you could still do well on the clay is always helpful. I think it just kind of knocks down a barrier in your brain a little bit about where your perspective is and where you can go when you’re playing these big events.”

“I think it was just keeping a really good open mindset” – Pegula

The 29-year-old, who has a 22-7 record this year and has been one of the most consistent players on the tour, added that she kept a much more open mindset when it comes to playing on clay, which has helped her become more successful on the surface.

“I think I was more open to what I need to do differently (on clay); which wasn’t that much. I guess when you’re looking you probably don’t notice but I think just little mental things, where to serve, where to return what to do when the conditions get heavy, adding more drop shots, which I always did drop shot but maybe doing it more,” she said.

“So I feel like just really minor adjustments and just kind of having the right mindset coming in that, okay, it’s clay but if you come in with a negative attitude, I feel like some players do that don’t like the surface, then you’re kind of losing before you even get there. So I think it was just keeping a really good open mindset.”

As the third seed this week, Pegula has a bye in the first round and then meets either Jasmine Paolini or Magdalena Frech in the second round on Friday.