Jessica Pegula booked a third straight US Open showdown with Aryna Sabalenka, grinding out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Emma Navarro on Tuesday to set a semifinal clash with the two-time defending champion.
Sabalenka beat Pegula in the 2024 final in Flushing Meadows and beat her again in the semis last year on the way to a second crown.
Third-seeded Pegula needed two hours and 20 minutes to get past Navarro, recovering an early break in the third set of a tense baseline battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Pegula powers through to the semifinals! pic.twitter.com/idcRTGXsaP
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2026
"It was really tough," Pegula said after a match featuring nine breaks of serve. "It was physical, humid. I wasn't exactly serving my best and I was fighting a lot of demons out there today."
Pegula improved to 5-0 against Navarro, a former world No 8 who is on the rise after an extended break to focus on health issues, winning her first title in more than a year at Strasbourg in May.
Pegula, who has won two titles this year, is among the trio of players who arrived at Flushing Meadows with a chance to supplant Sabalenka atop the world rankings in New York.
Jessica Pegula has booked a third-straight trip to the US Open semifinals! pic.twitter.com/bpvhZnCpyg
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2026
The 32-year-old would have to go all the way to a first major title to have a shot at claiming the top spot.
But the No 1 issue could be moot by the time Pegula and Sabalenka square off on Thursday.
Second-ranked Elena Rybakina can seize the top spot regardless of other results with a win over China's Zheng Qinwen in their quarterfinal on Wednesday.