The stage can’t get bigger than this for Jessica Pegula! She is living up to her billing as the home favorite to win the US Open title this year. Yesterday, she put on a thrilling display to upset World Number 1, Iga Swiatek, in straight sets. Riding high on confidence due to her good form of late, Pegula is looking to emulate Coco Gauff’s feat last year by winning the title in New York. However, the path ahead isn’t easy for her.

Pegula will be up against Karolina Muchova, who has inflicted many upsets in the tournament already. She is the dark horse to win the title and it promises to be a thrilling semi-final battle.

Jessica Pegula vs Karolina Muchova: Preview

Both Pegula and Muchova have had contrasting seasons so far. The American star is having one of the best years of her tennis career and is looking to win her third title this year at the US Open after wins in Berlin and Toronto. She has carried her hard-court form to the US Open and is yet to lose a set at the tournament. Despite not getting the easiest of draws, Pegula has stayed focused to defeat the likes of Swiatek, Sofia Kenin, and Diana Shnaider. However, she will have to put her best foot forward against a high-flying Muchova.

“Worst and most serious injury,” that’s how Muchova described her injury setback that she suffered earlier this year. It hasn’t been an easy year for the Czech star, as she underwent wrist surgery and missed almost 10 months of action. Nonetheless, she made a comeback in the grass-court season and reached the finals of the Palermo Ladies Open before her exploits at the US Open. Like Pegula, she is yet to lose a set in the tournament and will hope to continue her winning run against Pegula.

Pegula vs Muchova: Head-to-head

Although both Jessica Pegula and Muchova have been playing on the WTA Tour for long, the two have squared off just once before, which was just a few weeks ago. They locked horns at the Cincinnati Open and Pegula won the round of 32 match in three sets 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Despite that heartbreaking loss, Muchova will aim to settle scores when the two go head-to-head again today.

Prediction: Expect a see-saw battle going right down to the wire

Both Jessica Pegula and Muchova have played some of the best tennis of their careers at the ongoing US Open. Very little separates them at this stage of the tournament and fans can expect a neck-to-neck match between them today. While Pegula is ranked sixth on the WTA Tour, Muchova is ranked just outside the top 50 at the 52nd spot. However, she is set for a massive leap after the US Open.

Muchova already has wins over some big names at the tournament like Naomi Osaka and Jasmine Paolini. One of the standout features of Muchova’s game in this tournament has been her return game. During her quarterfinal win over Beatriz Haddad Maia, she won 47% of the receiving points, which was an impressive figure. The Czech is predicted to win the match against Pegula in three sets despite the latter having home support. The two will clash at the Arthur Ashe Stadium later today.