US Open: No. 3 Jessica Pegula survives rough start vs. Emma Navarro to set up clash with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka

American tennis player Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 3 in the world, faced a challenging quarterfinal match at the US Open against fellow countrywoman Emma Navarro on Tuesday. Pegula, who is the top seed in the tournament, started off poorly, suffering from tightness and serving inconsistencies in the first set. Her serve was particularly poor, landing only 11 of 28 first serves, while her second serve was also hard to contain, winning only 6 of 17 points.

Navarro, who had never lost to Pegula before, capitalized on these issues to take the first set 6-3. Despite the rough start, Pegula showed resilience in the second set. She responded to a break by Navarro, winning the next four games and ultimately securing the set with a score of 6-4. Pegula's performance improved in the final set, but she still had to overcome a break by Navarro in the third set to clinch the match with a score of 6-3.

Pegula's victory in this match secures her a spot in the semifinals, where she will face the top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka. The clash between Pegula and Sabalenka will be an interesting one, as both players are in contention for the WTA's No. 1 ranking. Pegula has a career head-to-head advantage of 9-4 against Sabalenka, but Sabalenka has the upper hand in their most recent encounters, winning two of the last three meetings.

If Elena Rybakina, ranked No. 2 in the world, loses her quarterfinal match against Qinwen Zheng on Wednesday, she will become the new No. 1 if Pegula, Sabalenka, or Coco Gauff win the title. Pegula's third-round run at the US Open marks her third consecutive appearance in the semifinals, a remarkable accomplishment for the 25-year-old player.