American women’s tennis has enjoyed extraordinary achievements this year, showing resilience and extraordinary skill at Grand Slam tournaments. Madison Keys shocked Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open before Coco Gauff’s impressive win against Sabalenka again at Paris. Jessica Pegula enjoyed three titles this year but recently experienced difficulty on North American hard courts (such as an unexpected early exit at Canadian Open ). As Pegula prepares to contest US Open she has shared candid thoughts regarding current form before US Open begins next month.
Anastasija Sevastova broke Pegula’s hopes of winning back-to-back titles at the National Bank Open by defeating her, leading to unpredictable performance fluctuations that has her questioning her game and mental approach as the US Open approaches. Pegula expressed displeasure with recent play – acknowledging moments of brilliance interspersed with periods of inconsistency while openly sharing how tough maintaining form could be as she discussed her struggle not dwelling on past setbacks and continued forward momentum despite her recent losses at National Bank Open.
As she looks ahead to Cincinnati, Pegula is focused on addressing the challenges of maintaining a high level of play throughout a match, especially during critical points. She sees this as essential for competing against top players and making a significant impact at the forthcoming US Open. Despite her recent losses, she remains committed to finding her rhythm and competing at her best.
Anastasija Sevastova’s victory over Pegula highlighted the unpredictability of tennis, with Sevastova, ranked No. 386, using a protected ranking to participate in the Canadian Open. Her win against a top-10 player like Pegula has been a talking point in the sport, underscoring the depth of talent in the women’s game.
Pegula took an approach beyond her on-court challenges to address issues of mental health and pressures faced in professional sports, drawing upon Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova and Bianca Andreescu’s experiences to underscore the significance of acknowledging and addressing online criticism and its effects on athletes; creating new avenues of support within sporting communities by opening dialogue about mental wellness issues initiated by these athletes.
Pegula now looks ahead to Cincinnati and plans on refining her game and building momentum for an impressive run at the US Open. Her journey exemplifies both physical and mental resilience required of professional tennis competition, so stay tuned!