Jessica Pegula has enjoyed an excellent start to the 2026 season.
The 32-year-old, perhaps the best WTA player yet to win a Grand Slam, secured her first title of the year in February at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The American subsequently withdrew from the ATX Open, before reaching the Indian Wells quarter-finals.
Pegula was defeated by Elena Rybakina in California; and Rybakina went on to reach the final, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in three close-fought sets.
How do you rate Jessica Pegula’s chances of ever winning a Grand Slam?
Rybakina and Sabalenka have dominated proceedings during the early stages of this year, contesting the two biggest finals so far.
Following her exploits in Indian Wells, Rybakina has now risen to world number two for the first time in her career; and the Kazakh seems to be forming an exciting rivalry with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Ahead of the Miami Open, Pegula discussed the prospect of challenging Rybakina and Sabalenka.
Jessica Pegula says it has been ‘tough’ playing Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina
“It’s been tough,” Pegula said during her pre-tournament press conference, as reported by the Miami Open.
“I think a lot of the matches I’ve lost, you know, big matches, have been more or less to them or to Coco [Gauff]. I’ve done really well as far as improving my game and kind of knowing what I need to do.
“I think I’ve been playing a little bit more aggressive. I think I’ve been serving a lot better. Always kind of working on my movement and figuring out different strategies and plays that I think will work well against them.
“But they’re playing some amazing, amazing tennis, and I think rightfully right now they are the two best players in the world, just by their results and the matches that they’ve had flipping back and forth at big tournaments and finals.
“I’ve beaten them before, so it’s not like I feel like it’s impossible, but I do feel like they’re playing some really good tennis and they’re the people to beat.
“Just being able to believe in that type of stuff when I’m playing them in big moments and big points is kind of the difference. But I’ve been right there and super close.
“It’s hard. They’re tall, big girls with big serves, and sometimes it’s a little frustrating for someone that’s not as tall. But I still think there’s a lot of stuff that I can do really well and keep improving to keep pushing them.”
Jessica Pegula’s record against Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina
Pegula, the current American number two, has a 3-5 record against Elena Rybakina, last beating the Kazakh star at the 2023 WTA Finals.
Since then, Pegula has lost three consecutive matches to Rybakina.
Sabalenka has a more one-sided record against Pegula, winning nine of her 12 matches against the American.
Sabalenka won their last contest, defeating Pegula 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 at the 2025 WTA Finals.
When could Jessica Pegula play Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka in Miami?
Pegula has received a bye through to the second round and will face Francesca Jones or Venus Williams.
From there, she will likely play Leylah Fernandez in the third round and Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round.
Pegula’s biggest test will likely arise in the quarter-finals: she is scheduled to meet Elena Rybakina once again.
If Pegula were to advance past Rybakina, she would most probably play Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
