Jessica Pegula's on-court interview following her win against Karolina Muchova in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.nnSpeaker:nWell Jessica Pegula, through to your first ever major final. I got so many questions. What were you thinking?nnA set, two love, break point down, you hit that absolutely amazing slice forehand and she missed that volley. What went through your mind after that point?nnPegula :nI was thinking, alright that was kind of lucky, like try, like you're still in this. And it comes down to really small moments that flip momentum and she, I came out flat but she was playing unbelievable. I mean she made me look like a beginner.nnI was like about to like burst into tears because it was embarrassing. Like she was destroying me and I was able to just hold into that game and I was able to find a way, find some adrenaline, find my legs and then at the end of the second set into the third set I started to play like how I wanted to play and it just, I yeah, it took a while but I don't know how I turned that around honestly.nnSpeaker :nWe saw you after the second set when she went off the court. You went over to the boys from the Bahamas over there, your coaching crew. What did they tell you in that time that you went over there?nnPegula :nYeah they were telling me to mix up the serve a little bit, keep mixing up the spins and keeping her guessing, a few kicks out wide maybe to her backhand and to just play her backhand maybe a little bit more. You know she was getting that backhand down the line really well just to cover that a little bit more. It was just a few other things.nnI mean it wasn't anything different. I started to kind of do it at the end of the second but I think I was really able to hone in on a couple of those things really early and you know also just compete and use my legs and try and think clearly out there.nnSpeaker :nSo your sister's in the box there. Your dad's also here. He doesn't sit in the box.nnHe's some random spot here in the stadium. Oh there he is up on the big screen and your mom is at home. What does it mean to you to have your family all here supporting you and what does that mean for you to be in your first final of a Grand Slam at the US Open?nnPegula :nI mean it's amazing. I have my brother there, my sister there. On the screen was my dad, my brother-in-law, lots of friends, lots of family all scattered around.nnObviously my husband. Oh yeah I forgot about him. He's not even standing up.nnHe doesn't want to be seen. But yeah I have so much family here and they've been here watching a lot of my matches so to still be here and have them still here supporting me is crazy. I'm glad that they're able to share this moment with me.nnSpeaker :nOkay so next we know your next opponent is Irina Sabalenka. Give me your thoughts on playing her and just what this means to you to finally be in a major final.nnPegula :nI mean first of all I'm just happy I was able to turn this match around on such a big stage and figure it out but two yeah playing Irina is gonna be really tough. I mean she yeah she showed how tough she is and why she's probably the favorite to win this tournament. It'll be a rematch of Cincinnati so hopefully I can get some revenge out here but happy to have a day off.nnIt's kind of crazy that we're playing each other again in the finals but I think it just shows how you know how much great tennis we've been playing and she's gonna be obviously tough to beat but you know that's what the finals are for so I'm ready.nnSpeaker :nJessica this is one of the most phenomenal turnarounds in your biggest match of your career. I've said it all week. She takes the subway.nnShe was born in New York through to her first major final Jessica Pegula.
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