Even at more prestigious Miami, this single-minded approach held true. While finalists at a 1000 must, as Knowles puts it, “probably beat a legion of Top 10 players,” Pegula may have had one of the most straightforward paths to a 1000-level final—by ranking, I emphasize—in some time. She faced just two seeds before Sabalenka, [32] Anna Kalinskaya and [23] Marta Kostyuk, then opposed the resurgent Emma Raducanu in the quarters and the white-hot Alexandra Eala in the semis.
Given their forms in South Florida, the former US Open champion and current tennis darling were two of the most dangerous unseeded players in the draw.
Regardless, Pegula emerged after playing pressure-packed moments at an extremely high level—while carrying the burden of her lofty ranking. She edged Kalinskaya in a deciding tiebreaker, rallied past Raducanu after losing a second-set tiebreaker, and overcame Eala and her burgeoning fanbase in a humid, late-night thriller.
It’s a different type of pressure, and it’s actually a different type of success. Mark Knowles
“Pressure on her as the overwhelming favorite in this matchup,” said a commentator during Pegula’s opening match in Charleston against 215th-ranked Iryna Shymanovich—as the top seed strolled to her chair, having just held for 5-0.
There aren’t many matches where Pegula will be the underdog, and she’ll need to summon her absolute best to consistently turn the tables on top challengers. But whether she’s the decided favorite or not, the veteran’s never-satisfied style will suit her well.
Knowles didn’t know that was to come for Pegula when we spoke at Indian Wells, but his words prophesied the trajectory she’s currently on.
“It’s not easy to be the top seed, especially if there’s a huge divide. You’ve got to manage those expectations correctly, and I thought she did a fantastic job,” he says. “It was part of the message that I tried to give her: ‘They don’t give away titles. I don’t care if it’s a 1000, Grand Slam, 250, 500, even if it’s a 125. Titles are titles.
“There’s very few times that you get to come to an event on a Monday, and leave the winner. Savor it.’”
