As the tennis world turns its gaze to Flushing Meadows for the 2025 US Open, American star Jessica Pegula has emerged as a leading contender, buoyed by an emphatic endorsement from three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport. Pegula, ranked world No. 7, is riding a wave of momentum after a standout 2024 season, and Davenport believes the 30-year-old from Buffalo, New York, has what it takes to claim her maiden major title on home soil. “There is no reason why you can’t win the US Open,” Davenport told Pegula, her words resonating with a nation eager for an American woman to lift the trophy since Sloane Stephens’ 2017 triumph. With a favorable draw and a game firing on all cylinders, Pegula stands poised to make history.
Pegula’s journey to this moment has been one of resilience and reinvention. After reaching the 2024 US Open final—her first Grand Slam championship match—she fell 7-5, 7-5 to Aryna Sabalenka, a defeat that stung but fueled her determination. “I thought I played a great match, but she was just too good on those big moments,” Pegula reflected, showcasing her ability to learn from setbacks. Her 2024 season was a breakout, with 47 wins, titles in Toronto and Berlin, and a WTA Finals victory in Riyadh, making her the first American woman to win the season-ending championship since Serena Williams in 2014. Pegula’s 4-0 record against Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek last year, including a US Open semi-final win over the then-No. 1 Swiatek, has silenced doubters who once questioned her major credentials.
Davenport, a former world No. 1 and 1998 US Open champion, sees Pegula’s all-court game as tailor-made for New York’s hard courts. “She’s got the movement, the consistency, and now the belief,” Davenport noted, praising Pegula’s improved aggression under new coach Mark Merklein. Pegula’s versatility—blending rock-solid defense with timely attacking shots—has made her a threat against top players. Her 2025 season, already off to a strong start with a semi-final run at the Miami Open, positions her as a favorite alongside Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. “Jessica’s ability to stay composed and execute under pressure is what sets her apart,” Davenport added, pointing to Pegula’s knack for navigating tight moments, a skill honed through years of grinding on the WTA Tour.
The US Open draw offers Pegula a golden opportunity. As the No. 7 seed, she avoids Sabalenka and Rybakina until at least the semi-finals, with potential early tests against players like Karolina Muchova or Ons Jabeur. “You don’t win a Grand Slam by playing easy matches,” Pegula said, embracing the challenge. Her path is further eased by the absence of defending champion Coco Gauff, who withdrew due to a wrist injury, and the retirement of Angelique Kerber, opening up the women’s field. Pegula’s familiarity with Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she’s reached the fourth round or better in recent years, gives her an edge. “Playing at home, with the crowd behind me, it’s a different energy,” she said, recalling the electric support during her 2024 final run.
Pegula’s rise carries cultural weight. As the daughter of Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula, she has navigated the pressures of privilege while forging her own identity. “I’ve always wanted to earn this on my own terms,” she once said, a mantra that resonates as she chases a title that would make her the first American woman since Venus Williams in 2001 to win the US Open before age 31. Her advocacy for women’s sports, inspired by her family’s ownership of the Buffalo Sabres, adds depth to her narrative, making her a role model for aspiring athletes.
The stakes extend beyond personal glory. A US Open win would cap Pegula’s transformation from a late bloomer—her first WTA title came at 25—to a tennis titan. “She’s peaking at the right time,” Davenport emphasized, noting Pegula’s physical and mental maturity. With rivals like Swiatek facing form dips and Naomi Osaka still rebuilding post-motherhood, Pegula’s consistency could prove decisive. As Flushing Meadows prepares to crown its champion, Pegula carries the hopes of a nation, her racquet poised to write a new chapter in American tennis history, one that Davenport believes is within reach.