Jessica Pegula has recently experienced a noticeable drop in performance as she prepares for the upcoming US Open, raising questions over her form. Her difficulties appear linked to the tennis balls used during recent North American hard-court events, a concern echoed by other prominent WTA players.
After capturing the Bad Homburg Open title on grass, Pegula was expected to make a strong showing at Wimbledon. Instead, her campaign ended abruptly with a straight-sets loss to Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the opening round. Shifting to the North American hard-court circuit, Pegula continued to struggle, losing early matches in Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati. These disappointing results put her under pressure as she nears her US Open return, having been defeated in four of her last five outings.
WTA Players Voice Frustration over Tennis Ball Quality in Recent Tournaments
Doubles specialist Ellen Perez recently revealed that she and Pegula have raised concerns about the quality of the tennis balls used during this hard-court season. Speaking on ‘The Tennis’ podcast, Perez admitted that both she and Pegula had spoken to multiple players about what they consider a problematic batch of balls.
“I’m not the only one complaining,”
stated Perez.
She further explained that many players have found the sensation of these balls unpleasant and ill-suited for the hard-court swing.
“Me and Jessica Pegula were talking about this. We’ve consulted with a lot of the players, and honestly thought these were a bad batch of balls for the hard-court swing.”
—Ellen Perez
Both players endured early exits at the Washington Open and later at the Canadian Open, reflecting their ongoing adjustment difficulties with the equipment.
Recent Tournament Performances on Hard Courts by Pegula and Perez
At the Washington Open, Pegula was defeated by Leylah Fernandez in the second round, while Perez and her partner Maya Jani lost their doubles match against Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan also in the second round. During the Canadian Open, Pegula managed to overcome Maria Sakkari in the second round but was knocked out by Anastasija Sevastova in the third round. Perez and her partner Lyudmyla Kichenok started strong with a first-round win but fell in the second round to Coco Gauff and McCartney Kessler.
Despite these setbacks, Perez found some promise at Cincinnati, claiming a quarterfinal spot in doubles. She suggested that the balls used there seemed more consistent with what players usually expect at the US Open.
“I would say that in Cincinnati, they’re feeling a little more like the balls we’re used to playing with at the US Open in the past years,”
she remarked.
In addition to changes in equipment feel, Perez highlighted the challenging conditions in Cincinnati, including fast courts and hot, humid weather, which she feels suits her style of play.
“The conditions here are tough,”
Perez said,
“The ball flies a lot, the courts are one of the fastest courts on tour, and with the hot-humid conditions, it’s not easy to control it at times.”
—Ellen Perez
She also expressed relief that she is competing in doubles rather than singles under such demanding circumstances.
“I wouldn’t want to be out there playing three hours in these conditions, but for doubles, I love it, I thrive in hot conditions.”
—Ellen Perez
Perez is now preparing for the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals alongside Kichenok, where they will face Lidumila Samsonova and Nicole Melichar-Martinez on August 14.
Reflecting on Pegula’s Deep Run at the 2024 US Open
Jessica Pegula’s performance last year at the US Open contrasted sharply with her recent difficulties. Seeded sixth in 2024, Pegula was regarded as a strong contender and quickly demonstrated her potential. After progressing through her first four matches, she reached the quarterfinal stage for the seventh time in her Grand Slam career.
There, she faced former US Open champion and world number one Iga Swiatek. Despite Swiatek’s recent victory over Pegula at the 2023 WTA Finals, Pegula triumphed in straight sets, recording her fourth career victory against a world number one. This win propelled her into her first Grand Slam semifinal.
Although she lost the opening set heavily to Karolina Muchova, Pegula produced a resilient comeback, winning the next two sets to book her place in the final. The final, however, saw her fall narrowly to Aryna Sabalenka, losing 5-7, 5-7.
While Pegula will aim to replicate or surpass this achievement in the 2025 US Open, scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 24, her recent performance slump and concerns about the new tennis balls present considerable challenges heading into the tournament.