Jessica Pegula’s French Open campaign came to an abrupt end on Tuesday evening.
Pegula, the fifth seed in Paris, saw her campaign ended by world number 83 Kimberley Birrell.
Birrell, from Australia, defeated the former US Open finalist 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Court Simonne Mathieu.
How do you rate Jessica Pegula’s chances of ever winning a Grand Slam?
Birrell will play Oleksandra Olijnykowa in the next round after the Ukrainian defeated Elena Ivanovna Pridankina in her own first-round match.
As for Pegula, she will live to rue her missed opportunity on the Parisian red clay.
Coco Vandeweghe left surprised by Jessica Pegula’s attitude during her loss at Roland Garros
Sloane Stephens, a former Roland Garros finalist, summarised the first three days of the major event while speaking on TNT Sports.
Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, also discussed Jessica Pegula’s defeat to Kimberly Birrell.
“Just a lot of ups and downs. Things that we normally wouldn’t see,” the American said while speaking to former professional players Mark Petchey, Chris Eubanks and Coco Vandeweghe.
“The courts are playing so different, the speed of the ball is different. During the ‘qualies’ week it was super cold, so it’s a huge transition, even [for] people who were practising early.
“It’s a completely different tournament. So I think now, the balls are playing different.”
We’ve seen some upsets that we really wouldn’t normally see, like Pegula going out last night.
“That to me is kind of a shock, but it’s just a general thing when you have some up and downs in a tournament, and that’s what we’re seeing.”
Who will win the Roland Garros Women’s Singles title?
Pegula’s loss will certainly have come as a shock to many. However, should we be surprised that Pegula has suffered an early exit in Paris?
Pegula has historically struggled at the event, reaching the quarter-final stage just once in 10 attempts.
Tuesday’s loss also marked Pegula’s third first-round loss at Roland Garros.
“I was shocked. But I was more shocked at Jess’ attitude – she just continued in that fashion,” former US Open semi-finalist Coco Vandeweghe [pictured below, left] stated to her colleagues on the TNT Sports panel.
“When she turned it around in the second set, I thought that would be the difference-maker for Jess Pegula.
“But all credit to Kim Birrell. She really played a great brand of tennis – matched Jess Pegula punch for punch from the baseline.
“And also, just stayed confident and played like this was her championship match, where Jess Pegula did not rise to the occasion.
“But that’s what happens sometimes at a first-round opening. Some people fall flat; others make moments happen.”
Jessica Pegula’s best run at Roland Garros
In 2022, 11th seed Jessica Pegula enjoyed her best spell of form at Roland Garros.
The American began the event by defeating China’s Wang Qiang, 6-2, 6-4.
Victories against Anhelina Kalinina, Tamara Zidansek and Irina Camelia-Begu followed, setting up a clash with top seed Iga Swiatek.
Świątek emerged victorious on this occasion, defeating Pegula 6-3, 6-2.
It was Swiatek’s 33rd consecutive victory on the Tour – the third-longest this century.
“I want to use the experience that I have and also I know her game style pretty well and I know how her strokes how I feel them on my racquet, so that’s pretty positive,” Swiatek said afterwards, as per the WTA.
“But I don’t really want to become overconfident. I don’t think it’s going to happen because still it’s semifinal of a Grand Slam and she really deserves with her game to be here.
“Because I feel like she’s playing even more solid than she was and she already played really solid.
“I’m going to prepare as to any other match and for sure I’m going to use the experience, but I don’t really want to come back to those matches because they were on hard court and it was a different time for me.
“I feel like I’m in the right place and that place that I kind of worked for really hard. … Being in the semifinal, it’s a new experience because it [doesn’t] happen very often and I hope I’m going to use my chance.”
Swiatek went on to win the event, beating Coco Gauff in the final. The triumph in Paris was Swiatek’s second in three years.
