By Janina Nuno Rios
NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Jessica Pegula reached the U.S. Open semifinals for a third straight year, coming from a set down to beat Emma Navarro 3-6 6-4 6-3 in an all-American clash on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old will face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in a rematch of the 2024 final after securing her fifth straight win over her compatriot, including a victory at last month’s Cincinnati Open.
The clash, dubbed by American media as the “Battle of the Billionaires” because of their backgrounds, began more than an hour later than scheduled after Frances Tiafoe’s marathon victory over Alex Michelsen in another all-American contest.
The wait did little to help either player find their rhythm, with the match instead marked by errors and few sustained bursts of momentum.
The 26th seed had the edge in a scrappy opening set as both players struggled to settle. They traded early breaks and each hit five double faults, with an extra break allowing Navarro to move one set ahead.
The miscues continued in the second, but Pegula found a slight improvement that allowed her to level the match, finishing a long exchange with a fine forehand winner to make it one set apiece.
Pegula carried that momentum into the decider, where an extra break put her in control before she closed out the victory.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in New York; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)
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