Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the US Open match.
Jessica Pegula
After missing a couple of months due to a rib injury, Jessica Pegula returned to the tour in June to prepare for the US Open. She had a phenomenal end to the summer: the American won the Masters in Toronto and reached the final in Cincinnati, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka (3). Her excellent form allowed her to defeat Iga Świątek in the previous round. The pressure and successful rallies took their toll on the Pole. Świątek struggled and made far too many unforced errors, committing 41 compared to Jessica’s 22. Additionally, Świątek was less aggressive in her attacks, hitting 49 winners to Pegula’s 65. It was a failure in multiple aspects and a well-deserved victory for the American.
Karolína Muchová
Despite a lower ranking, the Czech player was the favourite against Haddad Maia, and she justified that status. Karolína's main asset in the quarterfinal was her strong first serve: 76% compared to the Brazilian's 64%. The winning percentage on the first serve also favoured Muchová: 78-53%. The Czech player had plenty of successful aggressive plays as well—59 winners to 43.
Jessica Pegula - Karolína Muchová Prediction
In the Round of 16 in Cincinnati, the American defeated Karolína Muchová in three sets (5:7, 6:4, 6:2). The semi-final at the US Open promises to be intense. If both players maintain their serving stats and play actively in their finishes, we could be in for a spectacular three-set match, making it hard to predict the winner.
