Jessica Pegula Forced to Withdraw from ATX Open
Defending champion Jessica Pegula has unfortunately been forced to withdraw from the ATX Open due to a left knee injury. The news comes as a blow to fans eager to see the World No. 5 in action in Austin, Texas.
Injury Details and Replacement
Pegula, who was the top seed and reigning champion, was scheduled to face Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia in her opening match. She has been replaced in the draw by Yuan Yue, a lucky loser who previously won the tournament in 2024. This unexpected turn of events elevates 18-year-old Iva Jovic to the top seed.
Recent Successes and Pegula’s Perspective
The withdrawal occurred on Pegula’s 32nd birthday, just days after a triumphant victory at the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai, where she secured her 10th career WTA Tour title. The Dubai tournament saw Pegula navigate a challenging schedule, winning five matches, including two grueling three-set battles, in just five days.
Following her Dubai win, Pegula shared her thoughts on longevity in the sport with WTAtennis.com, stating, “I’m old, you can say it,” with a laugh. “I don’t feel that old because I had so many injuries in my early 20s. I don’t think I’ve built up the wear and tear on tour yearly. I was hurt a lot. I was able to mature and find my game and believe in what I needed to do through the ups and downs.”
She continued, expressing a desire to inspire younger players: “I hope I can inspire girls to show that you don’t have to be 20 years old. You can still play really good tennis if you take care of your body and keep improving. So yeah, I’m really proud of myself that I can do that as a player at 32 now.”
Pegula’s 2024 Season So Far
Despite this setback, Pegula has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024 season, boasting a 13-2 record. Her only losses came against Marta Kostyuk in the Brisbane semifinals and Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open semifinals. She has reached the semifinals in an impressive seven consecutive events, a feat last achieved by Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015-16.
Looking Ahead
Last year, Pegula had a dominant run in Austin, losing only one set en route to the title, defeating fellow American McCartney Kessler in the final. She is now slated to compete in Indian Wells and Miami, where she reached the final in 2023. Fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on her recovery and hoping to see her back on the court soon.
The tennis world wishes Jessica Pegula a speedy recovery and looks forward to her return to competition.
