Full Breakdown
Pegula Overcomes Navarro to Reach US Open Semifinals
9/9/2026, 11:29:51 AM
Pegula Advances to the Semifinals
Jessica Pegula rallied from a set down to defeat Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the women’s quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The win marks Pegula’s third consecutive US Open semifinal appearance and sets up a Thursday clash with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion.
Match Dynamics
Navarro started strongly, breaking Pegula twice to claim the opening set 6-3. In the second set Pegula steadied her serve and broke back, taking the set 6-4. The deciding set featured extended rallies and a humid, physically demanding atmosphere; Pegula broke Navarro twice to pull away 6-3. Both players exchanged baseline shots, producing consistently long games throughout.
Player Perspectives
Pegula described the contest as “really tough… it’s humid” and explained how she silenced her inner doubts to stay competitive. Navarro later reflected that she briefly felt she had “her number” before the momentum shifted.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was really tough. It was physical, it’s humid,” — Jessica Pegula
- “Every time I come out I have to tell the negative me to shut up and compete out there. Try to problem solve as best I can,” — Jessica Pegula
- “I think there was a minute there where I felt like I kind of had her number,” — Emma Navarro
Tournament Context
Pegula’s season includes a tour-leading 19 three-set victories, the most by any player this year. At 32, she becomes the oldest woman in the Open era to reach multiple major semifinals in a single calendar year, having also reached the Australian Open semifinal earlier. Navarro entered the match with a 3-1 record against top-10 opponents, underscoring the tightness of the encounter. The women’s draw remains “chalky,” with the top four seeds still in contention alongside Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, who are slated for their own quarterfinals.
What’s Next
Pegula will meet Sabalenka on Thursday, a rematch of the 2025 semifinal and the 2024 final. A victory would send Pegula to her second US Open final, while a loss would end her run at the semifinal stage.
