Jessica Pegula Stuns Tennis World With Game-Changing Announcement for 2025 Season

A resurgent Jessica Pegula roared into the French Open fourth round on Saturday, outlasting 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier to keep America’s momentum alive at Roland Garros. Pegula, the world No. 3 and highest-seeded U.S. woman in Paris, shook off a flat opening set by breaking the Czech left-hander three times in the second. From there the Buffalo native dominated the decider, winning 16 of 20 first-serve points and sealing victory after two hours, eight minutes. Key stats • First-serve points won: Pegula 78 % (43/55) • Break points converted: Pegula 5/10, Vondrousova 2/4 • Winners-to-errors ratio: Pegula 28-23, Vondrousova 22-29 Turning the match around At the first-set changeover Pegula buried her face in a towel, then emerged with fresh aggression. “I told myself to start playing on my terms,” she explained in her on-court interview. “Once I stepped inside the baseline, I dictated with my forehand and made her defend.” That tactical switch paid immediate dividends: Pegula cracked a return winner to earn her first break point of the afternoon and never looked back, surging to an early 3-0 lead in set two. American surge in Paris Pegula’s win came on the same day Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Sofia Kenin and Hailey Baptiste all advanced, marking the first time since 2003 that five U.S. women reached the last-16 in Paris. The 30-year-old credited the group dynamic: “When you see your compatriots winning, it gives you extra juice. We’re feeding off each other’s energy right now.” Road ahead Pegula next faces French wildcard Elsa Jacquemot, a former junior champion riding a wave of home-crowd support. The pair have never met, but Pegula will be a heavy favourite thanks to her superior experience and a newly sharpened clay-court resume that includes a WTA 1000 semi-final in Madrid last month. Serve upgrade paying off A year ago Pegula’s serve was considered a vulnerability, producing just 37 % unreturned serves on clay. Off-season work with coach David Witt and biomechanics specialist Richard Krajicek has added both pace and disguise; through three rounds she has faced only six break points in her last four sets. What it means for the title race With world No. 1 Iga Swiatek upset on Friday, the women’s draw has opened dramatically. Pegula, now the highest seed in the bottom half, sees opportunity but remains cautious: “There’s still a long way to go, but I like where my game is—mentally and physically.” Off-court spotlight Beyond the baseline, Pegula continues to advocate for equal investment in women’s sports and has pledged a portion of her French Open prize money to a scholarship fund for girls in western New York. The gesture echoes her ongoing philanthropy through the Pegula Family Foundation. SEO takeaway Fans searching for “Jessica Pegula French Open,” “Pegula vs Vondrousova highlights,” or “American charge at Roland Garros 2025” will find a player peaking at the right moment, armed with a revitalized serve, historic U.S. support, and a legitimate path to her first Grand Slam semifinal. As Paris crowds chant “Allez,” the Buffalo breakthrough may finally be on deck.