Pegula Gears Up for US Open 2025 Against Sherif

As she aims for her first major title at her home Grand Slam, Jessica Pegula, last year’s US Open finalist, is ready to face the tournament’s inherent unpredictability.

Before making it to the final at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre last year, where she ultimately lost to Aryna Sabalenka, Pegula had previously experienced six Grand Slam quarter-final defeats.

The 31-year-old New York native, who also finished as runner-up at the 2023 WTA Finals, expressed that the challenge of navigating difficulties independently, with global attention, fuels her passion for tennis.

Pegula stated on Friday, “I think I love the individual aspect of it… the feeling that you get from achieving something on your own is, in my opinion, unmatched by other sports.”

“It becomes extremely challenging and difficult when you’re out there alone. But I believe that competing and believing in yourself, because there’s no other choice, has always been the primary reason why I play.”

“You need a lot of courage to go out there and accept that one of you will fail in front of a global audience, alone on the court.”

Jessica Pegula noted that the presence of ten different champions in the past eleven years heightens the excitement surrounding the women’s singles competition at the US Open.

She further added, “I believe everyone enters with the hope that they have a chance to win… which makes it much more open. If you can perform well and find methods to secure victories, you can advance far here, where anything is possible.”

Jessica Pegula, who will play Mayar Sherif of Egypt in the opening round on Sunday, emphasized that spectators can also significantly impact athletes’ performances at the US Open.

She concluded, “I believe there are numerous stories of the crowd embracing and supporting individuals in various ways… I don’t believe you experience that at the other Slams.”

“It’s incredibly vibrant, boisterous, enjoyable, and somewhat chaotic. But I think it perfectly captures the essence of New York.”