Pegula upsets world No. 1 Swiatek, Sinner reaches US Open semis
2024-Sep-06 17:00
US OPEN. Zhang Shuai (L) of China and Kristina Mladenovic of France celebrate beating Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic/Taylor Townsend of the United States to reach the final of the 2024 US Open in New York on Wednesday (Sept. 4, 2024). Zhang and Mladenovic will face the No. 7 seeds, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Ukraine's Lyudmyla Kichenok, in the final on Friday. (PNA/Xinhua/Li Rui)
WASHINGTON – American Jessica Pegula stunned world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland 6-2, 6-4 in the women's singles quarterfinals, while top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy defeated Russia's Daniil Medvedev to advance to the US Open men's singles semifinals on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Pegula, eager to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal, displayed great determination from the outset.
"I have been [to the quarterfinals] so many times. I just kept losing, but I mean, to great players, to girls that went on to win the tournament," she said. "I don't know what else to do. I just need to get there again and win the match."
Throughout the match, the sixth-seeded American put significant pressure on Swiatek, disrupting the 23-year-old Polish player's rhythm.
After securing the victory in straight sets, Pegula remarked, "She [Swiatek] is so good, so talented, so athletic. I know she has a lot of experience going deep in Slams as well. I just had to go out and execute my game. Finally, I can say semifinalist."
In the semifinals, Pegula will face Czech player Karolina Muchova, who comfortably defeated Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4.
Both Italian favorite Sinner and Britain's Jack Draper are set to make their US Open semifinal debuts.
The 23-year-old Sinner overcame fifth-seeded Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, while Draper, 22, secured a win against Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
"It was very tough. We know each other quite well. I know I can improve a lot, especially going to the net. I am very happy with how I have done it today, and let's see how I can handle the next opponent," Sinner said after the match. He will compete with Draper for a spot in the final.
In the women's doubles, China's Zhang Shuai and Kristina Mladenovic of France advanced to the final by defeating American Taylor Townsend and Czech Katerina Siniakova 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
"I believe I have the best partner in doubles, so I have nothing to worry about. I always know she will help me a lot, and I must try my best as well," said Zhang.
Zhang, who won the US Open women's doubles title in 2021 with Samantha Stosur, has now reached her fourth Grand Slam doubles final.
Zhang and Mladenovic will face the No. 7 seeds, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Ukraine's Lyudmyla Kichenok, in the final on Friday. (PNA)