Jessica Pegula rallied after a difficult first set in an emotional US Open semi-final against Karolina Muchova to reach her maiden grand slam final.

Pegula is the oldest American woman in the Open Era to reach her first major final, where she will play Aryna Sabalenka, but she had to do it the hard way in a 1-6 6-4 6-2 in two hours and 13 minutes.

The 30-year-old won her first service game, but Muchova's strength pushed her through the rest of the first set.

Pegula then found herself 2-0 down in the second but dug deep to go on a four-match winning streak and force a decider.

After that, Muchova had no way back, as Pegula got two more breaks in the final set, and she admitted that even she was surprised by the comeback.

"I came out flat, but she was playing unbelievable, she made me look like a beginner," Pegula said.

"I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing, she was destroying me.

"I don't know how I turned that around, honestly."

Data Debrief: Pegula's wait is over

It is the second year in a row that an American will play in the women's singles final, with Pegula following Coco Gauff, who won the tournament last time around.

However, by defeating Muchova at the age of 30 years and 193 days, Pegula became the oldest American in the Open Era to reach a maiden grand slam final.

She is also just the third player in the Open Era to win a women's singles semi-final at the US Open after losing the first set 6-1, after Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004) and Victoria Azarenka (2020) – excluding retirements.

Aryna Sabalenka believes her improved calmness was the key to her reaching a second consecutive US Open final.

The Belarusian beat one of the home favourites Emma Navarro in straight sets on Thursday, needing a tie-break to edge past the in-form American.

Sabalenka, who finished as runner-up to Coco Gauff in the tournament last year, won 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in just over 90 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

After a relatively comfortable first set, Sabalenka looked to be cruising in the second too, until Navarro clawed her way in front after being 5-3 down.

However, the number two seed soon regained her footing to win the tie-break, and she credits the work she has put in on her mindset as the game changer.

"I worked really hard on my mindset on the match," Sabalenka said afterwards. "I think I made really huge improvement on that calmness, on those crucial moments.

"Even if things are not working well for me, I still keep doing the right things, and I'm staying in control. I'm really proud, I'm actually really proud of myself that I was able to get to the point when I'm in control of my emotions."

Data Debrief: Back-to-back

Sabalenka has dropped just one set throughout the US Open this year, and has put herself in the best position to win the competition for the first time. 

The 26-year-old is the first woman to reach back-to-back US Open finals since Serena Williams in 2018 and 2019. She has now reached all four hard court grand slam finals in the last two years.

Since the Australian Open's switch from grass in 1988, Sabalenka is just the fifth player to reach the women's singles final at the Australian and US Open in consecutive seasons after Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis and Victoria Azarenka.

Jessica Pegula admitted she was confident in beating a "prime" Iga Swiatek to reach her first grand slam semi-final at the US Open. 

Pegula, who had lost her previous six slam quarter-finals, came through in straight sets at Flushing Meadows to stun the world number one. 

She also became the fourth American in the Open Era to reach the women’s singles semi-final at the Canadian, Cincinnati and US Open in a calendar year after Rosemary Casals (1970), Serena Williams (2013-15) and Sloane Stephens (2017).

Pegula's triumph set up a meeting with Karolina Muchova for a place in the final after the Czech overcame illness to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia, also in straight sets. 

With Emma Navarro along with Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz advancing to the final four, it is the first time two Americans have reached the semi-finals in the women’s and men’s singles at the US Open since 2003, with Jennifer Caprati, Lindsay Davenport, Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi the first do so. 

It also marked Pegula's fourth victory over the Pole, with the latest win considered one of her best. 

"I've been [to the quarter-finals] so many freaking times but I kept losing," Pegula said. 

"Finally - finally - I can say I'm a semi-finalist. Thank you to the crowd, you carried me through that last game.

"To do it at prime time against the number one player in the world - it's crazy, but I knew I could do it."

Jessica Pegula advanced to her first-ever major semi-final, stunning Iga Swiatek in straight sets at the US Open on Wednesday.

The home favourite became the fourth American to reach the semi-finals of this year's tournament after Emma Navarro, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.  

Pegula took advantage of the world number one's off-night, cruising through 6-2 6-4 in just under 90 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

There was little let-up for Swiatek, who lost her serve twice in quick succession at the start of the match as Pegula raced into a commanding lead, and the sixth seed recovered well after going behind in the second set to pull back in front.

And Pegula, who made just one double fault, and 22 unforced errors compared to Swiatek's 41, believes that was the difference in the quarter-final.

"I thought I played a really clean match, served pretty well, returned well," Pegula said.

"I feel like I didn't really do anything that bad and was able to kind of jump on her really early, and I think frustrate her.

"I was able to keep my level even when she picked it up in the second set."

Pegula will face Karolina Muchova for a place in the final. 

Data Debrief: Righting wrongs

Going into Wednesday's match, history was not exactly on Pegula's side as she held a 0-6 record in her previous grand slam quarter-finals. 

However, a quick start ensured that she claimed her 21st WTA top 10 win of her career - in the past four decades, only two US players have claimed more without reaching a women's singles final at a grand slam, though she will be hoping to avoid staying on that list.

Pegula is also the fourth American in the Open Era to reach the women's singles semi-finals at the Canadian, Cincinnati and US Open in a calendar year after Rosemary Casals (1970), Serena Williams (2013-15) and Sloane Stephens (2017).

Karolina Muchova reached the US Open semi-finals for a second straight year by beating Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Muchova, who was felled in the last four by eventual champion Coco Gauff last year, missed the first two grand slams of 2024 after undergoing wrist surgery, before going out in the first round at Wimbledon.

The 2023 French Open runner-up made a blistering start to Wednesday's quarter-final, though, breaking at the first two attempts and needing just over half an hour to clinch the opener 6-1.

She then appeared to struggle with illness in the second set and was broken to love immediately after registering another break of her own, with two double faults thrown in along the way.

The world number 55 rallied magnificently, though, converting the second of two break points to immediately restore her advantage at 4-3 before receiving treatment courtside. 

Haddad Maia sought treatment herself after appearing to be in distress during the very next game, but the stop-start nature of the contest did not affect Muchova, who sealed her 6-1 6-4 victory with a huge ace.

She will face either world number one Iga Swiatek or home favourite Jessica Pegula for a place in the final on Friday, with their quarter-final clash taking place later on Wednesday.

Data Debrief: Muchova's New York upturn

A trip to Flushing Meadows has proven to be just the tonic for Muchova following a difficult start to the year.

In fact, she is the first woman to reach the semi-finals of the US Open having arrived at the tournament without a single grand slam victory all season since 2020, when Jennifer Brady achieved the feat.

She is also just the second Czech player to reach the last four while winning all five of her matches in straight sets in the Open Era, after Jana Novotna, who did so in 1994 and 1998.

Aryna Sabalenka quipped the drinks would be on her to get the Flushing Meadows crowd onside for her US Open semi-final against Emma Navarro.

Home favourite Navarro will go up against a player in form in the last four, after last year's runner-up Sabalenka put on a show of force against Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng in the quarters.

Sabalenka claimed a statement 6-1 6-2 victory on Tuesday, in what was a rematch of this year's Australian Open final, which the Belarusian also won.

There was little let up for Zheng, as Sabalenka conceded fewer than five games against a WTA top-10 opponent for only the third time in her career, after wins over Coco Gauff in Indian Wells and Maria Sakkari at the WTA Finals last year.

Though Sabalenka knows that American Navarro, who followed up her win over defending champion Gauff by beating Paula Badosa, will have the crowd on her side.

"OK guys, drinks on me - and please give me some support in the next match," she laughed.

"She [Navarro] is a really good player. We had two battles, they were really close."

Sabalenka had more than just nerves to deal with against Zheng, given the great Roger Federer was watching on from the stands,

"I saw him there, saw him on the big screen," Sabalenka said regarding Federer, a five-time US Open champion.

"I was like, OK, I have to play my best tennis so he enjoys it. I have to show my skills, you know, slice skills, come to the net and all that stuff."

Data Debrief: Four on the spin for Sabalenka

Sabalenka has now reached four successive US Open semi-finals, as she takes her tally of last four appearances at grand slams to nine.

At the age of 26, she is the youngest woman to reach four straight semi-finals at Flushing Meadows since 2002.

She is the also first player to reach the women's singles semis at both the Australian Open and US Open in back-to-back years since Serena Williams (2015-16).

Emma Navarro is ready for the challenge of either Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng Qinwen as she bids for US Open glory at Flushing Meadows. 

Navarro, who had never made it past the first round in her previous appearances at New York, put on an impressive display to win in straight sets against Paula Badosa.

The American found herself 5-1 down in the second set, only to win the next six games in a row to reach her maiden grand slam semi-final. 

She also became the second American player since 2000 to make their first grand slam women's singles semi-final at the US Open, after Jennifer Brady did so in 2020. 

But waiting in the next round is last year's runner-up, Sabalenka, or the recently crowned Olympic champion Zheng, a challenge Navarro is not shying away from.

"I've played both of them a couple of times,” said Navarro. “They are great players, I think we will have a great battle. But I'll be up for the challenge of either of them.

"Both big servers, big hitters and I think they will come aggressively at me whichever one it is - but yeah I'll be ready."

Navarro had only won one match at the main stage of a grand slam before this year, but has got better and better throughout her breakout year of 2024.

She reached the third round of the Australian Open, the last 16 at the French Open, the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and now the semi-finals of her home slam.

"After I got it back to 5-2, I had a bit of an inkling that it might be two sets," added Navarro.

"I just wanted to stay really tough and stick in there and even if I did lose the second set, I wanted to set the tone for the third set.

"Just really happy with my performance today. Crazy to be moving on to the semi-finals. US Open baby."

Emma Navarro is ready for the challenge of either Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng Qinwen as she bids for US Open glory at Flushing Meadows. 

Navarro, who had never made it past the first round in her previous appearances at New York, put on an impressive display to win in straight sets against Paula Badosa.

The American found herself 5-1 down in the second set, only to win the next six games in a row to reach her maiden grand slam semi-final. 

She also became the second American player since 2000 to make their first grand slam women's singles semi-final at the US Open, after Jennifer Brady did so in 2020. 

But waiting in the next round is last year's runner-up, Sabalenka, or the recently crowned Olympic champion Zheng, a challenge Navarro is not shying away from.

"I've played both of them a couple of times,” said Navarro. “They are great players, I think we will have a great battle. But I'll be up for the challenge of either of them.

"Both big servers, big hitters and I think they will come aggressively at me whichever one it is - but yeah I'll be ready."

Navarro had only won one match at the main stage of a grand slam before this year, but has got better and better throughout her breakout year of 2024.

She reached the third round of the Australian Open, the last 16 at the French Open, the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and now the semi-finals of her home slam.

"After I got it back to 5-2, I had a bit of an inkling that it might be two sets," added Navarro.

"I just wanted to stay really tough and stick in there and even if I did lose the second set, I wanted to set the tone for the third set.

"Just really happy with my performance today. Crazy to be moving on to the semi-finals. US Open baby."

Emma Navarro staged a stunning second-set comeback against Paula Badosa to reach her first career grand slam semi-final at the US Open on Tuesday.

The American looked to be heading to a decider but put together an incredible run to win 6-2 7-5 on Arthur Ashe Stadium in 74 minutes.

Navarro had never made it past the first round in her previous appearances at Flushing Meadows but has followed up her Wimbledon quarter-final run with another impressive showing.

Badosa, who has been on a recent resurgence with her title in Washington last month, struggled to gain a foothold, losing her serve twice in the first set and failing to get a break in the penultimate game.

She looked back to her usual self in the second though, racing into a commanding 5-1 lead, only to see it slip away from her.

Buoyed by her home crowd, Navarro won the next six games in a row to set up a meeting with either Qinwen Zheng or Aryna Sabalenka in the next round.

Data Debrief: Breaking new ground

It has already been quite the year for Navarro, winning her first WTA Tour title in Hobart in January before reaching her first grand slam quarter-final in Wimbledon.

But her performance in her home tournament has the potential to be the pick of the year. Into her first major semis, she is also now guaranteed a top-10 debut next week.

Navarro is the sixth player in the last 40 years to make the women's singles semi-finals at the US Open without a win at the event entering the tournament, after Steffi Graf (1985), Venus Williams (1997), Yanana Wickmayer (2009), Bianca Andreescu (2019) & Emma Raducanu (2021).

Iga Swiatek believes she is growing into the US Open and improving with each day that passes after storming into the quarter-finals by beating Liudmila Samsonova.

Five-time grand slam winner Swiatek is hunting her second title at Flushing Meadows, and she will face home favourite Jessica Pegula in the last eight after overcoming Samsonova 6-4 6-1.

She needed just over an hour and a half to see off the 16th seed on Monday in what represented her 100th main-draw match at grand slams.

Among those to begin their careers in the Open Era, only six female players have bettered Swiatek's total of 83 victories through their first 100 major outings.

Monica Seles managed 93 wins, putting her ahead of Chris Evert (90), Steffi Graf (87), Martina Hingis, Serena Williams (both 86) and Venus Williams (85).

Swiatek is also one of just four players in the last two decades to win 12 straight grand slam matches versus WTA top-20 opponents, alongside Graf, Seles and Serena Williams.

She still believes there is more to come, though, as she approaches Tuesday's headline tussle with sixth seed Pegula.

"At the beginning, I felt like we were playing men's style, just holding our serves but I knew that if I kept pushing I may get some chances to break," Swiatek said. 

"That happened and I'm happy I was there to close the first set. Then I just wanted to keep being focused and not let my mind drift off.

"I'm happy with the whole performance. I'm feeling better and better every day."

The victor of Swiatek's meeting with Pegula will face Karolina Muchova or Beatriz Haddad Maia for a place in the final, after the former upset Jasmine Paolini and the latter overcame Caroline Wozniacki.

Haddad Maia's' 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over Wozniacki – who won the 2018 Australian Open – made her just the second South American woman to claim multiple US Open victories over former grand slam winners (two), alongside Argentina's Gabriela Sabatini.

Jessica Pegula is through to the quarter-finals of the US Open after beating Diana Shnaider in straight sets on Monday.

She ensured she would not suffer a second consecutive fourth-round exit at Flushing Meadows, winning 6-4 6-2 in 88 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The American is on a hot streak since the tour returned to the North American hard courts, having already won the Canadian Open before reaching the final in Cincinnati, only to lose out to Aryna Sabalenka.

Pegula staunchly defended four break points in the second game, but three consecutive breaks put her in control of the first set despite Shnaider's spirited fight back.

The Russian, who is the youngest player to reach this year's fourth round, could not maintain that level n the second though, as Pegula got another two breaks in the second set and won the last three games to ensure she would go into the final eight.

Pegula will face either world number one Iga Swiatek or Liud Samsonova in the next round as she bids to reach a first-ever grand slam singles semi-final.

Data Debrief: Home advantage

Having failed to get past the second round at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2024, Pegula has already beaten her best grand slam result of the year.

She has now reached the quarter-finals of Canada, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same year for the second time in her career (also 2022). She is one of just four women to achieve this across multiple seasons during the Open Era.

Pegula is 13-1 on hard court this year, and will be hoping she can continue her impressive run, especially having gone 0-6 in her previous grand slam quarter-finals.

Defenidng US Open champion Coco Gauff was dumped out of the competition on Sunday, blaming a lack of execution in her defeat to fellow American Emma Navarro.

Gauff, who was also comfortably beaten by Navarro at Wimbledon two months ago, fell to a 3-6 6-4 3-6 loss after serving 19 double faults at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A bright start from Navarro saw earn a first break in the opening game after two double faults by Gauff in a sign of things to come for the world number three.

Despite a comeback in the second set, Gauff's remaining service games were punctuated by more errors in the third, serving 11 of her total double faults in the final set to hand Navarro the victory. 

"I fought really hard today. I just didn't take care of my serve, so that was the biggest difference," Gauff said.

"Mentally and emotionally I gave it my all. Of course, there were things execution-wise, where I wish I could serve better.

"I think if I would did that, it would have been a different story for me in the match."

Navarro will go on to play 26th seed Paula Badosa in the last eight after the Spaniard thrashed China’s Wang Yafan 6-1 6-2 earlier on Sunday.

Data Debrief: Doubles troubles for Gauff

With 19 double faults, Gauff served the equal-most double faults for her career in a single WTA main draw match, serving as many against Martina Trevisan at Roland Garros in 2020.

Navarro is the first American player to defeat the women’s singles defending champion at the US Open since Serena Williams in 2002 against Venus Williams in the final.

She is also now the player with the most hard court WTA quarter-finals in 2024 (seven, surpassing Elena Rybakina).

Aryna Sabalenka came from a set down to keep her US Open dream alive as she beat Ekaterina Alexandrova in the early hours at Flushing Meadows. 

Sabalenka emerged on court at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at seven minutes past midnight following Novak Djokovic's shock exit from the tournament, and consecutive upsets looked to be on the cards. 

However, the Belarusian responded from a disappointing opening set as she looks to avenge her defeat in the showpiece match against Coco Gauff a year ago.

The world number two set up a meeting with Belgium's Elise Mertens as she emerged a 2-6 6-1 6-2 victor in one hour and 40 minutes in New York. 

"I don't know what I did, I was just trying to stay low, put as many balls as I can back on that side," Sabalenka said. 

"She played incredible tennis in the first set. It was really tough to change it."

"I'm really happy I was able to turn around this match and get this really difficult win. Thanks so much for staying that late."

Data Debrief: Sabalenka survives late, late show

Sabalenka's encounter with Alexandrova was the latest starting match at the US Open, beating Gabriela Sabatini and Beverley Bowes' meeting in 1987 that started at midnight.

The Belarusian, however, will be hoping for a much improved performance in the next round, having produced 27 unforced errors throughout the contest and serving four double faults.

Coco Gauff rallied after a slow start in the US Open third round, staging a comeback win over Elina Svitolina to keep her title defence alive.

The American dug deep, altering her approach to claim a 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory over the Ukrainian in just over two hours on Friday.

It was an even start to the match as both players tried to figure out their opponent, and Svitolina struck first, winning the final three games in the first set to take the lead.

Having successfully defended three break points during the first set, Svitolina could not maintain her momentum, with Gauff finding her footing, and getting the vital break in the sixth game to stretch into a lead that forced a decider.

After a strong start to the third set, the world number three failed to convert match point three times in the penultimate game but eventually got over the line with another break in the next.

After claiming her 60th win at grand slams, Gauff will face either Emma Navarro or Marta Kostyuk in the next round. 

Data Debrief: Gauff defies age again

Gauff was certainly made to work hard for the victory, but in doing so, she became the youngest player to win 10+ consecutive women's singles matches at the US Open since Serena Williams (11 wins in a row between 1999 and 2000).

She is also the player with the joint-most wins at the US Open in women's singles this century before turning 21, equalling Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams with 17.

Gauff has now reached the fourth round in every grand slam this year, making her just the second player in the last 10 years to achieve that feat before the age of 21, after Iga Swiatek

Naomi Osaka's wait for a deep run into a grand slam rolls on after the former world number one was beaten by Karolina Muchova at the US Open.

Osaka, a two-time champion at Flushing Meadows, lost 6-3 7-6 (7-5) on Thursday.

She came up against a player in fine form in Muchova, with the Czech displaying the quality that saw her reach the semi-finals a year ago.

"I was just really trying to be focused," Muchova said.

"I know she's an amazing player and that I have to bring the A-game to have a chance. So I was just trying to be really focused on myself. I knew I had to serve well because her serve is really good. So I was just trying to be kind of locked in myself and focused out there."

"Then the energy and the big court and all that, it for sure helps me. I like that."

Osaka, meanwhile, suggested the nerves got to her on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I think during the pressure moments I got nervous," Osaka said, and I don't know if I just have to keep playing more matches and get used to that feeling, especially on a really big stage.

"Honestly, if I get past the disappointment, I feel pretty proud of myself to have gotten that many opportunities while still feeling like I could have played much better."

Data Debrief: Fifth time's the charm?

Muchova is one of nine players to have defeated five former world number ones at grand slam events.

However, out of those, she is the only active player yet to win a major or a WTA 1000 title. Will that change in New York?