Pegula Beats Navarro to Reach US Open Semis

Jessica Pegula is into a third straight US Open semifinal. She came from a set down to beat Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an all-American quarterfinal Tuesday, then booked a Thursday rematch with two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, per Reuters.

That keeps the American path alive in New York. Pegula is now 5-0 against Navarro, including a win at last month's Cincinnati Open, and the victory was also her 50th of the 2026 season, the first on the WTA Tour to hit that mark this year.

Set down, break down, still through

The match started more than an hour late after Frances Tiafoe's five-set win over Alex Michelsen. Both players struggled early. Navarro edged a scrappy first set after early breaks and five double faults apiece. Pegula cleaned up enough in the second, finishing a long rally with a forehand winner to level.

In the third she absorbed a 2-1 deficit, broke back, and closed it out in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Pegula said on court she was fighting demons and not serving her best, then praised her short-term memory for shutting the negative voice down and competing. WTA coverage framed the same comeback path from a break down in the decider.

Sabalenka Thursday, three-peat chase waiting

Sabalenka already survived Linda Noskova in a match tiebreak thriller. Our earlier note on Sabalenka reaching the semis set that board. Pegula now walks into a third straight year meeting Sabalenka in a New York semis or final after the 2024 title match.

For American fans, Tuesday was the grind piece. Errors everywhere, rhythm nowhere, and Pegula still found a way. Navarro pushed her. Pegula's ledger vs Navarro stayed perfect. The 50-win stamp is the quiet flex underneath the scoreline.

The billed Battle of the Billionaires never turned into highlight-reel tennis. It turned into survival tennis. Pegula's own words matched the tape: short memory, compete, tell the negative voice to shut up. That is how she has made three straight New York semis.

Fantasy and betting boards should treat Pegula as the home semis live underdog against Sabalenka's three-peat machine, not a soft touch that folded after set one. She has been here three years running for a reason. Sabalenka owns the recent Slam form, but Pegula owns the tough-night resume in this building.

Thursday is the rematch New York already knows. Pegula earned it the hard way. Navarro made her dig. Flushing gets another American in the final four, and the three-peat chase has company.