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Jessica Pegula says she is not feeling the same pressure as she aims to end her grand slam quarter-final hoodoo.
The American made it through to her seventh career last-eight tie at a grand slam after she beat Diana Shnaider in the fourth round of the US Open.
The previous six matches all ended in defeat, but Pegula has a different outlook heading into a probable tie with world number one Iga Swiatek.
She said: “I’ll just try to draw on that experience and how maybe I’ve handled it in the past and what I’m looking to try and do mentally different this time.
“I’ve had a couple of deep runs in some big tournaments obviously leading up to here.
“I think maybe the only difference is I had kind of a tough start to the year, so I think I’m a little bit more maybe appreciative of being able to turn it around the last month like I have whereas maybe previous years it kind of came like quarter-final, quarter-final.
“So I feel like this time, I don’t know, maybe a little less pressure in a way.
“I think I’m just happy that I’ve been able to give myself another opportunity, I guess.”
Karolina Muchova is not allowing herself to look too far ahead despite making the quarter-finals.
The Czech is playing just her sixth tournament since returning to the tour after 10 months out with a wrist injury and she is looking a real threat.
She demolished Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-3 and will now take on Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia.
“I’m not really thinking about winning the tournament,” Muchova said.
“I came to the tournament in a different position, I would say. Not that many matches played. It is my second tournament on the hard court.
“Now playing a few matches, I feel like I’m building up the game. I feel better each day on court.
“I’m just thinking about the match I’m going to play and trying to be prepared as best as possible. Then we’ll see how far I can go.
“I’m in the quarters, and I’m really grateful for that, and we’ll see.”
Haddad Maia denied Caroline Wozniacki a first grand slam quarter-final appearance since 2018.
Wozniacki has enjoyed her time at the US Open since coming out of retirement in 2023 but could not better last year’s run to the fourth round.
Haddad Maia, who is into the last eight for the first time at Flushing Meadows, won 6-2 3-6 6-3.
World number one Iga Swiatek is closing in on a second title in New York after making serene progress to the quarter-finals.
She meets Pegula next after a 6-4 6-1 win over Liudmila Samsonova.
Ted Lasso actor Jason Sudeikis was in the crowd on Arthur Ashe and Swiatek was happy to channel everyone’s favourite football coach.
“I actually avoided looking at the screens, but I saw him,” she said.
“I wanted to stay focused, I hope he appreciates my mentality because what Ted Lasso is all about.”
