Jessica Pegula is hoping to bring Billie Jean King Cup glory to the USA today after a big win over Great Britain in the semifinal.
Pegula has enjoyed a decent few weeks on the tour, reaching another semifinal at the US Open before losing again to Aryna Sabalenka.
Pegula is yet to get over the line at a Grand Slam, and given that she’s 31, time is running out in that sense if she’s to become a major champion.
However, the American remains one of the top players in the sport, and today she will go in search of a Billie Jean King Cup winners’ medal.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesJessica Pegula admits what surprised her about her US Open run
After a somewhat indifferent year when it comes to the Grand Slam tournaments, Pegula went into the US Open with a point to prove.
After reaching the final in 2024 before losing to Sabalenka, it looked as though she would gain revenge after leading by a set to love in a semifinal against the Belarusian.
However, the eventual champion showed her class to get over the line and leave Pegula waiting for a maiden Grand Slam title once again.
In her press conference after helping the USA defeat Great Britain, Pegula admitted she was somewhat surprised by her US Open campaign.
She said: “At the US Open? I made multiple breakthroughs at the US Open in a way over the last couple of years. I think being able to come back as a semifinalist again, obviously, I would have loved to be in a final, and I thought I played a great match against Sabalenka. It wasn’t in the cards.
“But to be able to be an American and play at the US Open and be able to have another great result in the following year after the final was a little surprising in a way for me just ’cause I wasn’t playing that well at the time.
“It was really fun. It just always inspires me to play in New York City. I think it just brings out my best tennis. I always love playing there.”
Pegula can claim Grand Slam glory in 2026
Pegula is still at number seven on the WTA world rankings, and that highlights that she’s very capable on her day.
The 31-year-old just needs a little bit of luck when it comes to the major tournaments, and maybe next year she can tweak her schedule to ensure she’s in the best possible place to try and win one.
Pegula is a likeable player on the tour and she’s proved across her career that she can mix it with the best players on the planet.
Now, the American has to really focus all of her energy on winning a big title and adopt a more ruthless streak when she finds herself leading big matches.