‘Excited’ Jessica Pegula speaks for the first time after winning again in China and reaching the quarterfinals
‘Excited’ Jessica Pegula Speaks for the First Time After Winning Again in China and Reaching the Quarterfinals
Jessica Pegula’s remarkable 2025 season continues to defy expectations, as the American powerhouse advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open with a gritty 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on October 9. The 31-year-old, who has now reached the last eight at all 10 WTA 1000 events in her career, spoke for the first time about her latest triumph in China, expressing excitement over her growing consistency and the high-level battles that have defined her Asian swing. “I’m just excited I was able to get over the finish line,” Pegula said in her on-court interview, reflecting on the 2-hour, 6-minute three-setter that marked her sixth straight decider this season—and her fifth win in those marathons.
The Match: Pegula’s Comeback Grit Shines in Wuhan
Pegula, seeded sixth in Wuhan, faced a formidable challenge from Alexandrova, the world No. 11 and a three-time tour-level champion this year, who led their head-to-head 3-2 entering the clash. The Russian raced to a 3-0 lead in the opener, but Pegula mounted a fierce comeback, reeling off four straight games to seize a 5-3 edge. Alexandrova clawed back to force a tie at 5-5, only for Pegula to convert her fourth break point of the set for a 7-5 win after 52 minutes.
The second set belonged to Alexandrova, who broke Pegula twice en route to a 6-3 victory, showcasing her powerful groundstrokes on the indoor hard courts. But Pegula, known for her mental toughness (14-11 in three-setters this year, a WTA lead), adjusted brilliantly in the decider. She saved an early break point to level at 1-1, then broke Alexandrova at 2-2 with a blistering backhand winner down the line. Holding firm despite three double faults, Pegula closed 6-3, improving her head-to-head to 4-3 and extending her Wuhan win streak to 5-0.
Post-match, Pegula quipped about her three-set streak: “I can’t remember the last time I played two sets… but I’ve been competing really hard and I’ve been playing a lot of really good players.” She now faces qualifier Katerina Siniakova in the quarterfinals, a rematch of their 2024 US Open encounter won by Pegula in straight sets.
Pegula’s Historic Milestone: QF or Better at All 10 WTA 1000s
Pegula’s Wuhan run completes a rare sweep: Quarterfinals or better at every WTA 1000 event on the calendar, joining only Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina among active players. This marks her 10th quarterfinal of 2025—a WTA-leading figure—and her first in Wuhan, where she’ll defend no points but add 215 for the last eight. Her WTA 1000 ledger is a blueprint of reliability:
| WTA 1000 Event | Best Result | Year(s) Achieved |
|—————-|————-|——————|
| Indian Wells | QF | 2021, 2023, 2025 |
| Miami | SF | 2022, 2024 |
| Madrid | QF | 2023, 2025 |
| Rome | QF | 2022, 2024 |
| Canada | Champion | 2023 |
| Cincinnati | Finalist | 2022, 2024 |
| Wuhan | QF | 2025 (ongoing) |
| Beijing | SF | 2022, 2024 |
| Dubai | SF | 2022 |
| Guadalajara | Champion | 2021 |
“It’s been a while since I played two sets,” Pegula joked, alluding to her recent straight-sets dominance in Beijing, where she reached the semifinals before falling to Linda Noskova. Her 2025 haul—three titles (Bad Homburg, Charleston, Austin), a US Open final, and now 41 wins (41-12 record)—has her third in the Race to Riyadh, locked for the WTA Finals.
Pegula’s Excitement: “Excited to Get Over the Finish Line”
For the first time since her Beijing semifinal, Pegula spoke at length about her form, radiating excitement over her growing command of big matches. “I’ve been competing really hard and I’ve been playing a lot of really good players,” she said. “Ekaterina is a tough opponent—she’s got that big game, and I had to stay aggressive.” Pegula credited her mid-career fitness gains for sustaining her in three-setters, where she’s 14-11 this year. “It’s exciting to be in the quarters here for the first time—Wuhan’s always been special, and I’m just happy to keep the momentum going.”
Her Wuhan progress comes amid heat controversies—Emma Raducanu’s retirement the previous day highlighted the tour’s demands—but Pegula’s focus remains on the positives. As the oldest player to reach the quarterfinals of both the China Open and Wuhan in the same year (per Opta Ace), she’s defying age narratives, eyeing a year-end top-3 finish and WTA Finals contention against Sabalenka and Iga Świątek.
Looking Ahead: Siniakova Quarterfinal and Finals Push
Pegula faces Siniakova, a 10-time doubles Slam winner building singles momentum, in the quarters—a rematch of their 2024 US Open clash won by Pegula 6-4, 6-3. A semifinal spot would pit her against either Ons Jabeur or Yue Yuan, with the winner earning 1,000 points and a shot at the $416,000 title. Pegula, with 41 wins and three titles, is primed for Riyadh glory, where she’s the defending champion.
Fans on social media celebrated her milestone: #PegulaQF trended with “10/10 WTA 1000 QFs? Consistency queen!” Pegula’s “excited” words signal a player peaking at the right time—her Wuhan run isn’t just history; it’s a harbinger of more to come.
