Pegula reaches 2nd Grand Slam semifinal at US Open

NEW YORK (AP) — Jessica Pegula broke through her quarterfinal wall again at the U.S. Open, defeating Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday to get to the semifinals at a Grand Slam tournament for just the second time in her career.

Pegula failed to advance into the semis in her first 23 main draw appearances at a major before reaching the final at Flushing Meadows a year ago, when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka, and has since been eliminated in the fourth round at the Australian Open, the third round at the French Open and the first round at Wimbledon.

Being back on hard courts at the U.S. Open has been a recipe for success. She has not yet lost a set.

“I think I’ve been playing some really good tennis,” Pegula said. “I’ve just been playing very solid. I’ve been having very good quick starts, so I really wanted to do that today, especially against someone like (Krejcikova) who’s very dangerous.”

Sabalenka will be Pegula's next opponent after Marketa Vondrousova pulled out of the tournament with an injury suffered in practice just hours before her match against the top-ranked player.

That was supposed to be played in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Pegula made quick work of Krejcikova.

“It’s crazy to look now and think that I’m really comfortable coming out here playing on big courts in big matches on the best court in the world with the craziest crowd against the best players,” Pegula said. “It’s pretty crazy, and it’s something 10 years ago I never thought I’d be good at this, but I guess I am.”

Pegula, 31, is seeded fourth at the U.S. Open and aiming for her first Grand Slam championship. She and No. 8 Amanda Anisimova are the only Americans left in the women's singles field.

Krejcikova knocked out one of them, Taylor Townsend, who failed to convert eight match points when they met in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Pegula was not perfect, but she played well enough to stay in control at all times and broke Krejcikova one final time to end the match in under 90 minutes — on her first match point attempt.

“It got really tight,” Pegula said. “She had a couple really good returns when I was serving at 4-1, and then we all saw what she did against Taylor, so I was happy that we’re done.”