Jessica Pegula’s Shocking Wimbledon Run: How the American Star Just Shook Up the Tennis World

American No. 1 Jessica Pegula Surges Into Bad Homburg Quarterfinals, Eyes Wimbledon Redemption Top-seeded Jessica Pegula kept her grass-court momentum rolling in Germany on Wednesday, defeating Czech shot-maker Katerina Siniaková 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Bad Homburg Open quarterfinals and set up a blockbuster rematch with fellow American Emma Navarro. Pegula, ranked No. 3 in the world, owns a 1-0 head-to-head edge after outlasting Navarro last year in Miami. The 31-year-old is bidding for her first trophy of the 2025 season after deep runs in Doha, Miami and Madrid that ended short of the winner’s circle. Grass has historically been Pegula’s trickiest surface, but the Buffalo native believes her low-bounce backhand and compact take-back can translate into a title just days before Wimbledon. “Each match on grass gives me another data point,” Pegula said after the win. “I’m figuring out the footing, the slice returns, all the little intangibles that decide a tight match on this surface.” Comfort off the court fuels results on it Pegula’s run comes after she opened up about prioritizing creature comforts for herself and husband Taylor Gahagen while traveling the European swing. The couple changed hotels mid-trip after what the world No. 3 called a series of “gross” incidents, and Pegula says the upgrade has already paid dividends in her on-court focus. “Tennis is stressful enough; you shouldn’t feel on edge in your own room,” she explained. “Once we fixed the logistics, the tennis started to flow.” A fiery response to Navratilova criticism Pegula also arrives in England with extra motivation after Martina Navratilova suggested she lacked the killer instinct to win a major. The American fired back that she “let the racquet do the talking,” pointing to her consistent top-five ranking and six WTA titles. Road to Wimbledon Should Pegula navigate Navarro and lift the trophy in Bad Homburg, she would claim her first tour title since Seoul last autumn and vault into Wimbledon as a genuine contender. The draw at SW19 is expected to feature all top 10 players, but Pegula’s crisp return game and improved grass instincts could neutralize the tour’s biggest servers. Key storylines to watch • Can Pegula turn grass-court reps into her maiden title of 2025? • Will a more relaxed travel routine translate to deeper Slam runs? • Does the Navratilova challenge ignite a new level of aggression in tight Wimbledon matches? With confidence building, a healthier off-court routine, and a chance to silence her skeptics on the sport’s grandest lawn, Jessica Pegula’s summer storyline is one tennis fans—and search engines—will want to follow closely.