NEW YORK – Jessica Pegra, the best seeded American remaining in the US Open Women’s Single Draw, beat Barbora Cresci Chikova 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday to make her second semi-final in her career in the Grand Slam tournament.
Pegra was unable to advance to the semifinals in her first 23 main draw appearances in the majors before reaching the US Open one year ago, losing to Alina Sabalenka a year ago, and was subsequently eliminated in the fourth round at the Australian Open, the third round of the French Open and the first round at Wimbledon.
Returning to the hard court at the US Open was a successful recipe. For the second year in a row, Pegra made the Final Four with Flushing Meadows without dropping a set, and so far has only been pushed past five in one set.
Before Pegra, the last woman to reach the US Open Semi-finals without surrendering the set was Serena Williams, who went four times in a row since 2011-14.
In this tournament, Pegra lost 23 games at the 2016 Australia Open, with American women on their way to the major semifinals since Williams (22 games lost before the semifinals).
“I think I’ve played really good tennis,” Pegra said. “I’m just playing very solid. I’ve had a very good quick start and I really wanted to do it today, especially with people like the very dangerous (Krezikova).”
Sabalenka, the world’s top women’s tennis player, could potentially become Pegula’s next opponent if she defeats Marita Vondrousova in a Tuesday night match. It is also the Arthur Ash Stadium where Pegra did the quick work of Crezikova.
“I think it’s crazy to see now, I think it’s crazy, I think it’s really comfortable coming here and playing in a massive game with the craziest crowd against the best players and the best courts in the world,” Pegra said. “It’s pretty crazy and that’s something I didn’t think I was good at this ten years ago, but I think so.”
Pegra, 31, is aiming for her first Grand Slam Championship. She and number 8 Amanda Anishimova are the only Americans remaining in the women’s singles field.
Krejcikova knocked out one of them, Taylor Townsend. Taylor Townsend was unable to convert eight match points when they met in the 16th round on Sunday. Pegula wasn’t perfect, but she played enough to keep control at all times, and finally broke Krejcikova to finish the match in under 90 minutes on her first match point attempt.
“It really got tough,” Pegra said. “When I was serving 4-1, she had a really good return and we all saw what she did to Taylor.
ESPN research and Associated Press contributed to this report.