New York: Third seed Jessica Pegula fought back from a set down to defeat compatriot Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an all-American quarter-final at the US Open, reaching the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows for the third consecutive year.
Pegula, 32, struggled with her serve early on as Navarro took the opening set 6-3. The 25-year-old moved 4-2 ahead after Pegula committed three double faults in a single game.
The third seed responded in the second set, with both players exchanging breaks before Pegula found the decisive opening at 4-4. A double fault from Navarro at 30-30 gave Pegula a set point, which she converted to level the contest.
Pegula then took control in the decider, breaking Navarro for a 4-2 lead before holding her advantage to close out the match and book a semi-final clash with world No. 1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The victory adds to Pegula’s strong 2026 campaign, during which she has won titles in Dubai and Charleston and finished runner-up in Cincinnati, Washington and Berlin. She also reached the Australian Open semi-finals earlier this year.
For Navarro, the defeat ended her hopes of repeating her 2024 run to the US Open last four.
Pegula has a 4-9 record against Sabalenka and has lost their last two US Open meetings, including the 2024 final and last year’s semi-final.
The American is also among four players still in contention for the world No. 1 ranking. She would move to the top if she wins the US Open title and Elena Rybakina fails to reach the semi-finals.
At 32, Pegula was the oldest player in this year’s quarter-final line-up. A title in New York would make her the second-oldest woman to win her maiden Grand Slam singles title, behind Flavia Pennetta, who was 33 when she triumphed at the 2015 US Open.
