Jessica Pegula hilariously misheard Aryna Sabalenka’s name, mistaking it for Serena Williams, after her win against Paula Badosa in the Cincinnati Open semifinals. Sabalenka won the other semifinal against Iga Swiatek, which means that she and Pegula will contest for the women’s singles crown at the prestigious WTA 1000 event on Monday, August 19.
Pegula started her semifinal showdown against Badosa, looking for her ninth consecutive win, and stormed to a 6-3 first-set triumph, breaking the Spaniard three times. Things seemed to be going Pegula’s way in the second set as well, as she stormed to a 2-0 lead.
However, Badosa soon found her feet as the Cincinnati weather began to deteriorate and turned the match on its head, establishing a 4-3 second-set lead before play was suspended due to bad weather. The Spaniard picked up right where she left off once play resumed and won two back-to-back games to force a third and deciding set.
Ultimately though, it was Pegula who showed nerves of steel in the third set to emerge victorious. The World No. 6 saved several break points and then won the last three games of the match to take the set 6-3 and reach the final, where she will face two-time reigning Australian Open champion Sabalenka.
During the post-match on-court interview, Pegula was asked about her thoughts ahead of the final against Sabalenka, with the interviewer referring to the Belarusian using her first name, Aryna. The World No. 6 wore an expression of surprise at the question, soon replying hilariously:
“Erm, I thought you said Serena.”
The interviewer played along, with Pegula concluding the moment of comic relief by saying:
“I mean, you never know.”
Jessica Pegula had expressed her disbelief after Serena Williams’ career came to an end at US Open 2022
Williams announced, ahead of the 2022 US Open, that it would mark the final tournament of her long and illustrious career. The 23-time singles Major winner reached the third round before eventually being stunned by Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.
For many, including Pegula, it was the end of an era, during which Williams had established herself as the most dominant and successful women’s tennis player in the Open Era. Pegula later spoke up about her disbelief at the fact that Williams’ career had ended.
“I just can’t believe like the era of Serena is kind of on the tennis court is over. I mean, it’s just hard to picture tennis without her. Because, I mean, again, all the achievements she had, but just she’s paved the way for a lot of women, women of colour, coming from Compton, there are just so many things she kind of checks off the boxes,” Pegula said at the time.
The 2024 Cincinnati Open final featuring Pegula and Sabalenka would be the seventh WTA Tour-level meeting between the pair. As things stand, the Belarusian leads the American 4-2 in their head-to-head.
