damJessica Pegula’s 2026 season has taken another dramatic turn, and tennis fans have plenty to talk about after the American star produced another memorable run at the US Open.
Pegula entered the final Grand Slam of the year as the No. 3 seed and quickly showed why she remained one of the most consistent players on tour. She defeated Sofia Kenin in the third round, battled past Leylah Fernandez in a comeback victory, and continued her impressive New York campaign by defeating Sorana Cirstea. Her quarterfinal against Emma Navarro became another major storyline as Pegula recovered from losing the opening set to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
That victory was particularly significant because it gave Pegula her 50th win of the 2026 season. She also reached the US Open semifinals for the third consecutive year, adding another remarkable chapter to her Grand Slam career.
But waiting for her in the semifinals was Aryna Sabalenka, a familiar opponent who had stopped Pegula during the previous two US Open editions. Once again, the American faced one of the biggest challenges of her season.
Sabalenka eventually defeated Pegula 7-5, 6-2, ending her run in New York. The result continued their increasingly notable US Open rivalry, with Sabalenka defeating Pegula in New York for the third straight year.
Despite the semifinal defeat, Pegula’s tournament added another important milestone to her career. She became the first player to reach four Grand Slam semifinals after turning 30, according to Sports Illustrated’s report on her 2026 US Open campaign.
Now, however, Pegula has decided to give herself some time away from competition. She withdrew from the Singapore Tennis Open after describing the recent weeks as physically demanding. Pegula explained that she was not yet ready to return to competition at the level she expects from herself.
The decision comes after an extremely busy stretch. During the American hard-court swing, Pegula reached finals in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, made the Round of 16 in Toronto, and then reached the US Open semifinals. She went 15-4 during that stretch and entered the latest rankings period with 50 wins for the season.
Her next scheduled tournament is the China Open, beginning September 30, where fans will be watching closely to see how she responds after her short break.
For Pegula, the story is far from finished. Her 2026 season has already included major victories, dramatic comebacks, another deep Grand Slam run, and a new chapter in her rivalry with Sabalenka.
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