Former ATP Player Believes Jessica Pegula is a Contender for Grand Slam Titles in the Future

A Grand Slam title is the only major tour-level silverware missing in Jessica Pegula’s cabinet. The World No.4 has won four WTA 1000 titles since 2022 and has become a strong competitor in the women’s circuit in her 30s. She broke into the top 10 of the WTA in 2022 at 28 and has maintained her place in the elite group.

Pegula came close to winning her first Grand Slam on tour in 2024, when she reached the final before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. That year, she won the Canadian Open, reached the final of the Cincinnati Open before the Flushing Meadows. She has not been able to replicate that kind of form since then.

The closest she got at the US Open last year was reaching the semi-finals before falling to Sabalenka. At this year’s Australian Open, she reached the semi-finals and was seeking to get into her second Grand Slam final, but she faced an in-form Elena Rybakina, who defeated her in straight sets and went on to win the title.

However, Pegula did well to rebound from a disappointing semi-final exit in Melbourne. She opted for a break during the Doha Open and returned to the court at the Dubai Tennis Championships. At the WTA 1000 tournament, she defeated two top 10 players, including Amanda Anisimova, en route to the championship victory.

The Dubai title was Pegula’s first since June last year. She has had to compete with the likes of Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff, who are way younger than her. During a conversation on the Nothing Major podcast, former ATP player Steve Johnson revealed that the 32-year-old is a strong contender for Grand Slam titles this season:

For her, what’s left to accomplish is winning a Slam title and winning these types of events, it’s not a slam title but it gives you the confidence to go out there and take care of business. The final, it was clinical. She took Svitolina, just over an hour, an hour and 10 minutes or so. And from start to finish it was Jess playing her best tennis and taking care of business. Great week for Jess.

Pegula’s last title before the Dubai Tennis Championships came at the Bad Homburg Open in June. There, the World No.5 defeated Swiatek in straight sets to win the title; it was her third title of the season, having won the ATX Open in Texas and then the WTA 500 Charleston Open on the grey clay.

Jessica Pegula withdraws from a tournament despite being the defending champion

Jessica Pegula was supposed to return to the court this week after winning the Dubai Tennis Championships. The American star was meant to take part in the ATX Open in Texas, a tournament she won last year. The defending champion was scheduled to face Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova in her opening match.

But she announced that she will not partake in the tournament due to a left knee injury. She sustained the injury in Dubai, but went on to win the title after beating Elina Svitolina in the final. However, Pegula’s withdrawal comes after she has featured in three tournaments this season and already played 15 matches. In a statement, she revealed her disappointment in pulling out of the event:

I am disappointed to not be able to defend my title in Austin. I love this event and have such great memories from last year. Hopefully I can come back in the future.

Pegula holds a 13-2 win-loss record on tour this season. She will be back on the court for the Indian Wells Open, which starts on March 4. The former World No.3 reached the round of 16 of the tournament last year before losing to Svitolina. She will be looking forward to continuing with her good form at the California-based event.

Also Read: Daniil Medvedev Suggests Major ‘Mind-Blowing’ Changes that Will Reduce the Number of Events on Tour

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