Jessica Pegula advanced to the second round of Wimbledon after beating Darja Viďmanová on Monday afternoon.
Pegula, the world number four, defeated the unseeded Czech player 7-5, 6-3 on Court two.
The American star is one of the favourites to win the Wimbledon title, alongside the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva.
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Pegula has already improved upon her Wimbledon performance from 2025. Last year, the Florida native was upset in the first round by Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Martina Navrátilová, a nine-time women’s singles champion at the All England Club, has stated why Pegula has a great chance of winning her first major title at Wimbledon this year.
Martina Navratilova says there is ‘no reason why’ Jessica Pegula cannot win Wimbledon this year
Navratilova is far from the first famous name to tip Pegula for Wimbledon success.
Earlier this month, former world number nine Andrea Petkovic chose Pegula as her Wimbledon champion for this year.
“No reason why she [Pegula] can’t win here,” Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, said while speaking to Prakash Amritraj and Jim Courier on the Tennis Channel.
“Her serve is bigger as you said. She’s low to the ground, can really rip the ball. Needs to move forward better because her volleys are excellent.
“She moves well enough and her shots pay off better on this court. So there is no reason – but you have to embrace grass.
“You got to love it. She needs to love it.”
Jessica Pegula’s path to the Wimbledon title
- R1: defeated Darja Viďmanová 7-5, 6-3
- R2: Sara Sorribes Tormo
- R3: Dayana Yastremska / Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
- R4: Iva Jovic / Ekaterina Alexandrova
- QF: Coco Gauff / Belinda Bencic
- SF: Aryna Sabalenka
- F: Elena Rybakina
Navratilova could not be more correct if she so desired.
Pegula is a serious contender for the Wimbledon title as her game is tailor-made for the grass courts.
Pegula has a low centre of gravity and she is an excellent counter-puncher – perhaps the best on the WTA Tour.
The American also strikes the ball very flat.
These qualities perfectly suit the low-bouncing, fast nature of grass courts.
Jim Courier, a four-time major champion, echoed these sentiments during his own analysis of Pegula’s Wimbledon title chances.
“This surface, she’s got the flat ball striking, that’s great for this surface,” he said.
“Her serve gets better on grass. Everyone’s does, but she needs that, especially on her second serve.
“If she can hit that little greasy slider serve – Martina, you mastered that one out here and everything else that goes with this surface – she can prevent people attacking that.”
After defeating Viďmanová on Monday, Pegula is scheduled to play Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo in the Wimbledon second round.
Pegula has a 1-2 record against Sorribes Tormo.
| Tournament | Winner | Score |
| 2016 Charleston | Sorribes Tormo | 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 |
| 2019 Indian Wells 125k | Sorribes Tormo | 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2022 Madrid | Pegula | 6-4, 6-2 |
This may seem like a concerning record for the American. However, it is worth noting that both of Sorribes Tormo’s victories against Pegula occurred before 2020.
Pegula won their last match at the 2022 Madrid Open, winning 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals.
Jessica Pegula’s Wimbledon record
Pegula made her Wimbledon debut in 2019, losing in the first round to Mihaela Buzărnescu.
Four years later, the American achieved her best result at the grass-court event to date.
At the 2023 Championships, Pegula advanced to the quarter-final stage after beating Lauren Davis, Cristina Bucsa, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, and Lesia Tsurenko.
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Pegula’s run came to an end against Marketa Vondrousova.
Vondrousova, who went on to win the title, defeated Pegula 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Pegula led Vondrousova 4-1 in the final set, before losing five consecutive games.
“Sucks to lose that way, having the lead in the third,” Pegula told reporters in London during her post-match press conference. “I don’t know what else to say, to be honest, so… that’s it.”
Jessica Pegula’s record at Wimbledon since making her debut in 2019
- 2019: First round
- 2021: Second round
- 2022: Third round
- 2023: Quarter-finals
- 2024: Second round
- 2025: First round
Pegula went on to reach the Wimbledon second round in 2024, and the first round in 2025.
