The US Open semi-finals promise blockbuster encounters after a dramatic quarter-final stage saw Jessica Pegula set up a revenge clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka, while Naomi Osaka surged back into the last four alongside men’s defending champion Jannik Sinner, MySportDab Reports.
Pegula, chasing her first Grand Slam final, brushed aside Barbora Krejcikova 6–3, 6–3 to reach her second straight semi-final at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set.
The Buffalo native, who became the first American since Serena Williams to achieve that feat in consecutive years, now faces the toughest possible challenge in Sabalenka. The Belarusian advanced via walkover after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew injured and is targeting her sixth straight hard-court Slam final.
Sabalenka, however, has fallen short in each of her last three attempts, losing in Melbourne and Paris finals before bowing out in the Wimbledon semi-finals to Amanda Anisimova. She holds a dominant 7–2 head-to-head record over Pegula, including last year’s US Open final, but the American believes she is better prepared this time. “It would be cool to get revenge, obviously,” Pegula said. “I walked off last year thinking of what I could’ve done better. Now, I see how incredible that run was.”
On the other side of the draw, Osaka produced her most convincing performance since returning from maternity leave, defeating Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova 6–4, 7–6(3). The two-time US Open champion, who had already stunned Coco Gauff earlier in the tournament, displayed resilience by saving crucial break points and dominating the second-set tie-break. “I’m just really grateful to be here,” Osaka said. “I was watching from the stands last year dreaming of this moment.”
The Japanese star now faces Anisimova, who stunned world number two Iga Swiatek 6–4, 6–3 to avenge her Wimbledon final humiliation. Backed by a raucous home crowd, the American has rediscovered her best tennis after taking a mental health break. “I really made a point to myself that with the right mindset you can have a positive outcome,” Anisimova said.
In the men’s draw, top seed Jannik Sinner maintained his ruthless run with a commanding 6–1, 6–4, 6–2 victory over compatriot Lorenzo Musetti in the first all-Italian Grand Slam quarter-final. The world number one extended his hard-court winning streak to 26 matches and will face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime next.
With Pegula chasing revenge, Osaka eyeing redemption, and Sinner defending his crown, the US Open semi-finals are poised for fireworks.
