Jessica Pegula’s 2024 season has been one of mixed emotions. Despite struggling with consistency and injuries, the World No.7’s resilient performance at several key events proves she still has what it takes to contend at the top of the game. This year, she secured impressive titles, including the Canadian Open and the Grass Court Championships in Berlin. She reached the finals at the US Open, Cincinnati Masters, and the China Open. However, she fell short in those final matches. She also made it to the Charleston Open and the San Diego Open semifinals while reaching the Miami Open quarterfinals. The former World No.3’s overall 2024 season record stands at 39-16, a testament to her competitive spirit despite the challenges.
The earlier part of the season was a struggle for Pegula, particularly after early losses at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the Olympics. A missed opportunity at the French Open and limited clay court play added to the challenges of her year. Nevertheless, her strong performance in key tournaments like the Canadian Open, where she defended her title, and the Berlin Grass Court Championships highlighted her continued ability to shine on hard and grass courts.
The US Open was a celebrated event for the United States in more ways than one. In the men’s draw, the U.S. had its first finalist since 2006, when Andy Roddick made it to the championship match against Roger Federer. Taylor Fritz beat Frances Tiafoe to secure history in New York. On the other hand, Pegula increased the expectations even more by beating Karolina Muchova in three sets to secure her place in the US Open final. However, both Americans lost in the final hurdle.
Despite her injury struggles after the US Open, she made it to the final eight of the WTA Finals in Riyadh. However, the injury crisis once again inflicted her campaign. After losing both of her group stage matches against Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejcikova, she withdrew from her last group stage match against Iga Swiatek.
For Pegula, it has been a season of learning and adjusting. Her past five years working with David Witt, who coached Venus Williams for over a decade, provided the stability she needed, but this year brought new challenges. It remains to be seen how this appointment shapes up her game in the 2025 season.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
