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Jessica Pegula’s 29th birthday turned out to be far from an ideal one. It was nothing like what the player would have hoped for.
The American was hoping to make consecutive finals after her previous week’s runner-up finish at the Qatar Open. However, she faced a heart-breaking birthday defeat at the hands of Barbora Krejcikova in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday, February 24.
The match saw Jessica Pegula get an edge over the 2021 French Open champion in the second set after scoring just one game in the opening set. The 29-year-old was, however, unable to bank on the momentum as Krejcikova fought back to stun the birthday girl by refusing to gift her a single game. The final score settled at 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 in favor of the Czech.
The World No. 3 tried to find humor in the dispiriting birthday defeat by letting her fans in on her miserable birthday celebrations that followed. Jessica Pegula revealed that she spent the remaining hours of her special day binging on Doritos at midnight, while she waited to catch a long flight back home.
“Everyone: ‘What is it like playing on tour? It must be so amazing!’
Me: gets bagled on your birthday, sitting eating Doritos at midnight, waiting to get on a 16 hr flight home,” the American laughed.
On a serious note, however, the 29-year-old proudly reflected on her success during the fortnight, which included - defending her doubles title with Coco Gauff at the Qatar Open, in addition to her runner-up finish in singles, as well as her latest semifinal run in Dubai.
“In all seriousness. Proud of my efforts the past two weeks. Time for some rest. Thank you,” she said.
The American athlete will now gear up to contest the next WTA 1000 at Indian Wells between March 6-19.
"I do believe that she's putting herself in the best position" - Jessica Pegula could win a Grand Slam this year, as per Casey Dellacqua
Jessica Pegula has certainly been living her dream with her success on the tennis courts over the past couple of years. The American athlete currently holds a career-high ranking of World No. 3. In 2022, the 29-year-old also lifted the biggest title of her career – the WTA 1000 Guadalajara Open.
Pegula has also found great results at Grand Slams – making five Major quarterfinals, with four being in the last five events contested. With such success, tennis commentator and former player Casey Dellacqua believes the World No. 3 is knocking on the doors of Grand Slam glory.
"I think Jessica Pegula's got to be up at the top of the list," Casey Dellacqua said on a recent podcast. "I think she's still continued a great run of form post the Australian Open over in Doha, she's made another final. I think she's got it all there."
"Obviously, we know how many matches you've got to win over the length of two weeks at a Slam and for things to fall your way in terms of draw. But I do believe that she's putting herself in the best position," she added.
