Pegula making her mark on major stage with first second-week showing

Jessica Pegula may only be seven months younger than next opponent Elina Svitolina, but injury lay-offs have left the American making up for lost time in a major way since the end of 2018—culminating with a first trip to the second week of the Australian Open.

“I think people still think I am young,” she said after a 6-2, 6-1 win against Kristina Mladenovic on Saturday. “I'm like, I'm not that young. I think I turn 27 later this month. ‘You're the young American,’ but I'm not that young anymore.

“I think because I was out at such pivotal times when I was younger throughout my career, I do feel like I missed out, and these are all new experiences. Maybe I would have gotten there sooner. I think it's just the journey, trying to get by, I guess.”

A hip surgery delayed her Top 100 debut to the spring of 2019, seven years after her WTA main draw debut. Later that summer, she won her first singles title in Washington, D.C., and played Serena Williams in another final six months later in Auckland.

Faced with another prospective lay-off when COVID-19 forced a tour-wide lockdown, Pegula, who has deep sporting connections as the daughter of Buffalo Bills and Sabres owner Terry Pegula, took to a summer of World TeamTennis to maintain her pre-pandemic level.

“I love playing on a team atmosphere. It was the first time for me. I ended up playing pretty much every match almost the whole season.

“That, I think, kept my competitive spirit going. When that finished and I was winning, like, a lot of matches—even though it's different scoring—it gave me a lot of confidence going into the US swing. I think I just did well there, was able to take that confidence here.”

Translating the match play into strong results at the Western & Southern and US Open, Pegula believes her third-round finish in Flushing Meadows sharpened her competitive instincts and set her up for this triumphant moment in Australia.

“I think at the US Open I was kind of scraping by, but I think that also was really good for me. I learned how to win when I wasn't playing well.

“Now I'm playing much better this tournament. Hopefully, I can keep it up for the next match, but I think I'm just peaking a little bit more right now with my game, whereas at the US Open I was just competing really well.

“Still, I think doing that there really gave me confidence for this slam, that I could do the same thing."

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Stunning former Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka in the first round, there's been little scrapping through wins over Samantha Stosur and Mladenovic that have seen her lose just 13 games in three matches—tying Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.

“I'm obviously seeing the ball and hitting the ball really well. I'm just trying to not let up at all. I think at the same time, I'm doing a good job of staying in the point when I have to, not going for too much, but still going aggressive at the right times.”

Against Mladenovic, her winners nearly doubled her errors (21 to 13) and she broke the Frenchwoman six times to book a rematch with Svitolina, who won their Abu Dhabi encounter to start the 2021 season. Through the thrill of victory, the world No. 61 has managed to shout out family and friends—including fellow pros Ons Jabeur and Jennifer Brady—by writing them notes in sharpie on the camera lens.

“It's a new experience being second week of singles. I've done it in doubles. Maybe that helps a little bit.

“I'm just trying to enjoy it. At the same time, I still want to do well, hopefully take this as a good opportunity to keep it going the next round.”

Rather than outline a game plan for the fifth-seeded Ukrainian she once beat as a junior, Pegula did promise one thing should she reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal: a shout out for dad.

“Funny story: my sister didn't see what it was, and she thought it said, ‘Hi, dad,’” she explained of the ‘Hi Ons!’ message. “She told my dad. My dad was really excited. Then he found out it wasn't him, and he got really upset. So totally, if I win, I have to give a parent shout-out next time.”