World No. 1 Iga Swiatek Loses To Jessica Pegula To Bow Out Of US Open 2024

World number one Iga Swiatek was sent packing out of the US Open 2024 on Wednesday by American Jessica Pegula in a quarter final match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

Sixth seed Pegula went past 2022 US Open winner Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 to moved into her first Grand Slam semi-final.

“Thank god I was able to do it, and finally—finally!—I can say semifinalist,” she said.  “To do it primetime, in Ashe, against the No. 1 player in the world, it’s crazy. But I knew I could do it, I just had to go out and execute my game.”

Another Upset at US Open 2024

23-year-old Iga Swiatek served poorly in the first set and her forehand was a real problem, with 22 of her 41 unforced errors coming on that side. On the other hand, Pegula made only 22 unforced errors in all and used terrific defense to keep forcing Swiatek to hit an extra shot.

Entering the day, the five-time Grand Slam winner  had lost only a pair of service games across four matches in the tournament, both in the first round — and she didn’t even face a single break point in any of her most recent three contests.

However, the day went against the Pole as Swiatek  grabbed a 4-0 lead just 21 minutes in or taking up that set, and broke in the opening game following Swiatek’s double fault.

Another gave Pegula her second break to go 3-0 up in a flash and she proceeded to take the first set in just 37 minutes.

The New Yorker kept up the pressure and secured the decisive break at 3-3 before taking the second set. 

To the delight of her home crowd, Pegula served for the match but she converted her third match point to cruise into the semi-finals of US Open 2024. 

Also Read: Fallen Stars At US Open 2024

The victory is the American’s fourth career win over Swiatek and first since the 2023 Omnium Banque Nationale. 

“I thought I played a really clean match, served pretty well, returned well,” Pegula said. “I feel like I didn’t really do anything that bad, and was able to kind of jump on her really early and I think frustrate her, and was able to keep my level even when she picked it up in the second set.”

Jessica Pegula  will face last year’s semi finalist Karolina Muchova Czech Republic in the semi-final of the US Open 2024 in a bid to enter her first major final.