Preview US Open 2024 Women’s Semifinals: Jessica Pegula fulfills her destiny and meets the outstanding Karolina Muchova

The 2024 US Open semifinals will see a thrilling clash between Jessica Pegula and Karolina Muchova, which we break down here. In our preview, we take a look at the match with the various storylines and the historic battles between the two in their earlier careers. Preview written by James Lloyd (TennisUpToDate).

Successful Pegula reaches goal

Pegula has been playing some excellent, impressive tennis in recent weeks, but there are some interesting trends to be observed. She is past her peak in tennis and has slowed down a bit recently, although she keeps winning. The American had an impressive run at the Canadian Open, which she won comfortably, and then followed that up with an impressive run in Cincinnati, where she was only beaten by the winner, Aryna Sabalenka.

Since then, her level has remained pretty high, but it wasn’t as impressive at the US Open. She showed some vulnerability here, especially in her last two matches. The match against Swiatek looks impressive just from the result because she beat, but it was a terrible match from the Pole. It was probably the worst match she’s played in a long time, and she played a horror match at the Olympics.

It’s the second time Swiatek has failed spectacularly in a major contest in recent weeks, which could be a sign of a worrying trend for her. Overall, it wasn’t that Pegula easily outshone her opponent, but she did enough to make Swiatek nervous. The American is hitting the ball as cleanly as ever. That’s true, and it will be the same against Muchova. She also seems very calm, which is impressive for her. She hasn’t always been the calmest player in the world, but at this year’s US Open, she quickly seems to be in a zen mode where she isn’t fazed by anything that happens. Even when she gets broken, she doesn’t make mistakes like she has in the past, plus she’s been very solid overall. Very, very solid.

Muchova’s stomach problems are a decisive factor

The same can be said about Karolina Muchova though. The list of players she has defeated on her way to the semifinals is impressive and what is even more impressive is the ease with which she has done so. She has not really been put under pressure in any of these parties but there are some question marks about her general condition going into this match. The main problem for Muchova will not be her tennis but her health. In her last match she was struggling with some health issues although it did not look like an injury but more like stomach problems.

This is something that can be managed, although it can be very annoying during a tennis match. However, her body seems to be holding up, which is a very good sign. This is the biggest obstacle she has had in previous years, because every time she has been able to play consistent tennis, her tennis has been amazing. The level at the US Open this year has also been very impressive. She has served incredibly well, by far the best of any player in the draw, and that includes Sabalenka.

She also played very well from the baseline, pretty stable, attacked when she had to and defended when she had to. She is not afraid to come forward and has a pretty good drop shot in her arsenal, plus she has all the tools to put any player in trouble and that includes Pegula. If you can absorb Pegula’s power well and force her to move a little bit then she has a pretty good chance of winning this match. Pegula is not an unsolvable puzzle for Muchova, especially considering how she has been playing lately.

The last match they played at the Cincinnati Masters was a complicated affair for Pegula, but she still managed to win it. It was a 3-set match, but the last set was won by Pegula 6-2 as Muchova had some physical problems. That’s the main problem for her here. Will her body be able to handle it? Because we’ve seen enough evidence in the past that it won’t. If it doesn’t, she has no chance of winning the match. The level in New York was better than in Cincinnati, so this match should be closer from the start, but it won’t be easy for Muchova.

Pegula is the favorite, not only because she has played so well recently, but also because she is playing at home. The crowd will be biased in this case and will put more pressure on Muchova. She has usually done well in such conditions, but Pegula should take inspiration from this.