WTA World No. 3 Jessica Pegula enters the 2026 U.S. Open with a clear focus on claiming the first Grand Slam title of her career.
Pegula, who reached the final in 2024 before falling to Aryna Sabalenka, spoke to USA TODAY Sports about visualizing a victory in New York. “My goal is to win the tournament,” she shared. “It is my favorite place to play just purely because I am an American and I’m from New York State.”
Through her partnership with Vital Proteins, the official collagen partner of the U.S. Open, Pegula has helped launch a major promotion for fans: a $250,000 collagen giveaway if any main draw singles match reaches a final-set tiebreak in the quarterfinal rounds or later.
US Open Final-Set Tiebreak Probability Calculator
Simulate the likelihood of a quarterfinal match reaching a final-set tiebreak to calculate the probability of the $250,000 Vital Proteins giveaway triggering:
🎾 US Open Tiebreak & Promo Estimator
Final-Set Tiebreak Prob
28%
Promo Activation Risk
High
Process Over Goals: Pegula’s Late-Career Growth
Considered a late-bloomer, the 32-year-old made her professional debut in 2009 but faced multiple injuries that delayed her ascension. She won her first WTA title in 2019 at age 25, reached the Top 50 in 2021, and eventually broke into the Top 10 in 2022 at age 28.
Pegula credits her longevity and success to “working backwards” and falling in love with the grittiness of the daily process, rather than obsessing over far-off career goals.
Strong Field of American Women Contenders
Entering the final major of 2026, the U.S. has five women ranked in the Top 25:
- Jessica Pegula (3)
- Coco Gauff (4)
- Amanda Anisimova (10)
- Iva Jovic (16)
- Madison Keys (24)
Pegula highlighted that this depth helps share the pressure, ensuring that no single American player carries the full burden of expectation to win on home soil.