Pigula sets a personal record after retiring the ball, 4 players from Landlord advance to 4th place in singles

In a remarkable display at the U.S. Open, Jessica Pegula made history by reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek with a score of 6-2, 6-4. This victory not only marked Pegula’s debut in the semifinals but also ensured that all four semifinal slots in both the men’s and women’s singles would be occupied by American players in this year’s tournament.

In another quarterfinal match, Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic overcame a wrist injury to defeat Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, seeded 22, with a score of 6-1, 6-4, securing her spot in the semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Swiatek, the reigning champion, faced Pegula after a challenging year where she had previously been upset in the fourth round by Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko. While she returned to the quarterfinals this year, she was unable to withstand Pegula’s powerful performance.

Ranked sixth in the world, Pegula had previously reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam six times, but until now had never advanced to the semifinals. Against Swiatek, Pegula showcased her skills brilliantly, breaking serve twice in the first set to take a surprising 4-0 lead. She maintained this momentum in the second set, breaking Swiatek’s serve twice more and clinching the match in just 89 minutes.

Muchova’s journey to the semifinals has been particularly inspiring. She underwent surgery on her right wrist in February and described her recovery journey as challenging, reflecting on the severity of her injury. “Looking back, time has flown by. I feel strong again, but during recovery, it was tough. I couldn’t move my arm and felt powerless,” she shared. Despite experiencing discomfort during the match, including taking breaks for treatment, Muchova remained focused, winning her match in just one hour and 25 minutes.

Now, Pegula is set to face Muchova in the semifinals, while another American player, Emma Navarro, will compete against Aryna Sabalenka in the other women’s semifinal. This year’s U.S. Open has been particularly historic, as it features four American players in the singles semifinals—a feat not achieved since 2003, when Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Lindsay Davenport, and Jennifer Capriati all made it that far.