The American men have put together a masterful US Open in 2024, with two stars in Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe facing off in the semifinals.
Now the American women are enjoying their own shining moment in Flushing Meadows.
Jessica Pegula will join Emma Navarro as one more American semifinalist. The New York native scored an upset victory over No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals, moving one step closer to a potential USA vs. USA final on the women’s side.
Before that can happen, both Pegula and Navarro will do something they have never done before: compete in a Grand Slam semifinal.
Believe it, Jessica! You’re a Grand Slam semifinalist 😍 pic.twitter.com/n5UbED1I8N
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2024
Here’s a look at Pegula’s age and how she made history with her victory over Swiatek at the US Open.
MORE: Live scores, complete results from 2024 US Open
How old is Jessica Pegula?
Pegula is 30 years old. She’s set to turn 31 in February.
While Navarro’s rise comes at the more traditional age of 23, it’s been a long journey for Pegula to get to this point. She turned professional 15 years ago, reaching as high as No. 3 in the world rankings in 2022 but never making a Grand Slam semifinal — until now.
By upsetting Swiatek on Wednesday in New York, Pegula became the oldest American woman to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal, putting a slew of early-round exits and disappointments behind her — at least temporarily.
Semifinalist has a nice ring to it 😌 pic.twitter.com/7i6SWbU4Bv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2024
The Buffalo-born standout, whose father is Bills owner Terry Pegula, stands two wins away from a US Open championship and will be favored against Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova in the semifinal round.
If Wednesday’s win is any indication, though, being favored guarantees nothing.
Has Jessica Pegula won a Grand Slam title?
Pegula has not won a Grand Slam title. In fact, she hadn’t ever gotten past the quarterfinals in any Grand Slam event until her upset win over Swiatek.
The moment has been growing closer to Pegula, as she reached the quarterfinals six times from 2021-2023. She didn’t win a single Grand Slam quarterfinal match until Wednesday.
After years of knocking on the door, Pegula is through to the semifinals but still needs two more wins to reach the pinnacle and capture her first Grand Slam championship.
MORE: Inside America’s 21-year US Open men’s singles drought
Jessica Pegula Grand Slam history
Year | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
2011 | — | — | — | QU |
2012 | — | — | — | QU |
2013 | QU | QU | QU | — |
2014 | — | — | — | — |
2015 | — | QU | QU | R2 |
2016 | QU | QU | QU | R1 |
2017 | — | — | — | QU |
2018 | — | — | — | QU |
2019 | — | R1 | R1 | R1 |
2020 | R1 | R1 | — | R3 |
2021 | QF | R3 | R2 | R3 |
2022 | QF | QF | R3 | QF |
2023 | QF | R3 | QF | RF |
2024 | R2 | — | R2 | SF* |
QU — Eliminated in qualifying
* — In progress
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