Jessica Pegula, the World No. 4 and last year’s US Open runner-up, recently shared her perspective on why the women’s singles title at the US Open seems more open than at other Grand Slam tournaments. Speaking ahead of the 2025 US Open held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, Pegula suggested that the depth of hard-court tournaments contributes to an unusually competitive field where no single player dominates consistently. Her observations touch on why the event feels accessible to a wider pool of contenders compared to grass or clay court majors.
Leading up to the US Open, Pegula played three hard-court events: the Citi DC Open, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open. Despite early exits—second round in DC to eventual winner Leylah Fernandez, third-round losses in Montreal to Anastasija Sevastova and Cincinnati to Magda Linette—Pegula remains optimistic about the tournament‘s competitive landscape.
Why US Open’s Hard-Court Surface Levels the Playing Field
During a press conference, Pegula explained why winners at Flushing Meadows differ each year, unlike the domination often seen on grass or clay surfaces. She pointed out that winning on hard courts does not require the specialization needed to excel on other surfaces. This factor, combined with the sheer number of hard-court events throughout the year, encourages many players to believe in their chances.
I don’t know why that is, because it’s, like, we have so many hard court tournaments. But I think going in, everyone is always excited that they have a chance to win. I don’t think it takes a super kind of specialist in this. Like grass, you see people that are really good on grass or really good on clay. Here it seems like statistically you don’t really have that as much,
Pegula said.
She emphasized the role of crowd support as an influential element that often helps level the competition, allowing different players to thrive during the US Open.
I think it just makes it much more open. I think we have seen a lot of those stories over the years on the men’s and women’s side where the crowd gets behind somebody, or like Medvedev when he flipped the crowd that one year,
Pegula added.
According to Pegula, the distinctive energy and enthusiasm of the New York crowd have a unique impact at the US Open compared to other Grand Slams:
There are so many storylines I think of the crowd kind of taking people and carrying them through in whatever way you kind of embrace them. I don’t think you get that at the other slams, so I think maybe that’s also a factor,
she explained.
Mixed Doubles Success Adds Momentum Before Singles Start
Before launching her singles effort in the 2025 US Open, Pegula competed in the mixed doubles event partnering with Jack Draper. The top-seeded duo began strong by defeating Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz in the opening round and advanced past Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals. However, their campaign ended in the semifinals, falling to the third-seeded pair of Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud, who became the runners-up.
First-Round Matchup: Pegula vs. Mayar Sherif
As the fourth seed, Pegula aims to build on her impressive runner-up finish from the previous year. Her initial challenge at the 2025 US Open will be against Egypt’s Mayar Sherif, who is returning after a month-long absence due to injury. Sherif has recently played at the Palermo Ladies Open, where she performed impressively as the top seed, including a first-round win over Ángela Fita Boluda with a 6-2, 6-4 score.
Sherif’s opponent withdrawal in the second round of the WTA 125 event due to a neck injury brought her to the quarterfinals by walkover, signaling a gradual return to form. Pegula and Sherif have not faced each other previously on the WTA Tour, making their upcoming encounter at Flushing Meadows their debut meeting.
The winner of this first-round match will advance to meet either Yuliia Starodubtseva or Anna Blinkova in the second round, setting the stage for a challenging path ahead.
What Pegula’s Insights Mean for Women’s Tennis at the US Open
Pegula’s reflections underscore a growing trend of unpredictability and competition among women at the US Open, linked largely to the hard-court surface and strong fan engagement. This openness creates an exciting environment where many contenders feel empowered to compete for the title, removing barriers often posed by surface specialization.
As the 2025 US Open progresses, the diverse field and passionate crowds are likely to continue shaping thrilling narratives, where emerging talents and established stars alike have a real shot at making a breakthrough. Pegula’s hopeful and determined stance aligns with the ongoing evolution in women’s tennis, highlighting the tournament as a true test of versatility, resilience, and crowd-powered momentum.