NEW YORK — When Jessica Pegula agreed to play in an exhibition tennis occasion at Madison Sq. Backyard, she had no concept how her profession would change earlier than she obtained there.
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The Buffalo native at all times beloved taking part in in New York, however the U.S. Open was identical to the opposite three tennis majors. She had by no means been capable of get previous the quarterfinals.
However shortly after committing to play in The Backyard Cup, she broke by means of and reached the ultimate at Flushing Meadows in September, dropping to present No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and creating reminiscences that got here flooding again when she returned this week.
“So I think even now that I’ve had that great result, being able to come back, it’s even cooler,” Pegula mentioned.
Pegula will play fellow American Emma Navarro, who misplaced within the U.S. Open semifinals, on Wednesday night time. Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, performs American Ben Shelton.
Alcaraz is getting again on court docket after a quick break, saying he did not contact his racket for about 1 1/2 weeks after taking part in for Spain within the Davis Cup in what was Rafael Nadal’s closing look earlier than retiring.
Pegula had an extended one, needing to relaxation a knee that was bothering her after taking part in within the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia in early November. She took about three weeks off, then began hitting once more about two weeks in the past to arrange to play Wednesday.
She might have declined the exhibition for extra break day through the brief tennis offseason, however did not wish to move up taking part in at MSG.
“When they were like, ‘You get to play in MSG,’ I was like, ‘Ooh, that’s sick,’” Pegula mentioned. “To me, I just think that in general, if it wasn’t at MSG, I don’t know, then maybe I wouldn’t have done it, to be honest. It’s something that’s special to be able to do it in New York City during Christmastime. It’s really cool against another American. There’s so many factors I feel like that made me want to say yes.”
Heading into the 12 months, she had been 0 for six in Grand Slam quarterfinal matches. Then she upset No. 1 Iga Swiatek, an enormous victory in a robust summer season stretch that arrange her longest keep in a serious event.
“It feels like I was just here,” Pegula mentioned. “The stress and just everything and the chaos of those three weeks, it’s kind of funny, you feel it instantly coming back to the city.”
Pegula’s mother and father personal the NFL’s Buffalo Payments and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Even earlier than changing into a serious finalist, she felt assist from the house followers when she performed in New York.
However when she went to a Rangers recreation this week and heard loud cheers as a spotlight from a U.S. Open match was performed, she realized how way more there is likely to be now.
“I think it’s so fun to play here and being an American. There’s a lot of Bills, a lot of Sabres fans that are always at the U.S. Open, whether they live here or they come to watch me,” Pegula mentioned. “So I think I always feel a little bit of a connection just being a Western New Yorker, but New Yorker nonetheless.”
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