American world No 4 Jessica Pegula was in imperious form in defeating compatriot Ann Li 6-1, 6-2 in their Round 4 match in 54 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Pegula described this match as one of the best she has played in a couple of months.
“Very good match I think for me today. Probably the best match, honestly, I’ve played since, like, before Wimbledon I feel like from the start to finish.
“So, that was encouraging. Yeah, I was just hitting the ball, doing everything well, executing my strategy very well and, yeah, got through it pretty quick.”
Well off her best
Pegula admitted coming into the US Open tournament well off her best levels.
“I felt terrible coming into this tournament, honestly. I had a practice on Wednesday, and I literally, I think I hit with (Aryna) Sabalenka. She killed me.
“I was playing terrible. Then we went out for a second hour, and I stopped like halfway through the hour and was, like, I’m done, like, this isn’t good. I don’t know why I’m out here practicing.
“It was hard, because that was the day after the mixed finish, so we were switching to different balls, and I was a little frustrated.
“The day was really cold and windy. I was, like, Yeah, I’m done for today. So, I kind of walked off the court, like, not very happy.”
It appeared that Pegula found the secret recipe that she had been looking for to reverse her form.
“Went and did an escape room with my friends and had, like, two drinks and was, like, I need to just chill and stop getting so frustrated and overthinking all these practices.”
Key factors
Pegula highlighted her ability to stay healthy as one of the key factors in maintaining her level of consistency.
“That’s something I feel like I’ve done well over the last three to four years and why everyone asks how I’m so consistent. It’s because I’ve been able to stay relatively healthy and been able to play a lot of tennis.
“Not everyone needs to play a ton of matches, but for me it definitely helps me and gives me a lot of confidence and helps with the consistency that I’ve been able to have over the last few years.”
When Pegula was younger, she described not being able to stay healthy consistently.
“That was always my issue when I was younger is I couldn’t stay healthy. So, I definitely after my hip surgery, I had kind of this, like, awakening moment where rehab sucks, and I was, like, I cannot do this again.
“I have to do everything in my power to stay healthy, or else I’m never going to give myself a chance to go out there and compete.”
‘Reworked my fitness’
Pegula admitted this was a turning point in her insight into what she needed to do to improve a couple of areas of her play.
“So, I really reworked my fitness, my nutrition. It wasn’t that I was doing anything wrong before.
“I don’t think I was the most professional in the sense that I didn’t understand, like, all of the things I had to be doing or needed to be doing.
“I mean, if you’re not healthy and you can’t give yourself the best chance to play, you’re not going to really see the results or see maybe your full potential.”
Pegula would go on to lose in the semi-finals in three sets against eventual champion, Sabalenka.
Dave Marshall is reporting exclusively from the US Open in Flushing Meadows for The South African.
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