Preview: US Open: Jessica Pegula vs. Barbora Krejcikova - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

Fresh off saving an impressive eight match points in the fourth round, Barbora Krejcikova returns to US Open action on Tuesday, when she faces 2024 runner-up Jessica Pegula in the quarter-final.

The Czech star’s remarkable comeback victory has put her just one win away from reaching the semi-finals in New York for the first time, but the two-time Grand Slam champion must overcome Pegula, who has advanced through four matches without dropping a set.

Match preview

Although marathon woman Krejcikova was expected to edge Taylor Townsend in three sets, nobody anticipated the astonishing miracle she produced in the second.

Having lost the first set, the Czech star faced even more challenges in the second, needing to play clutch tennis to save match points against the American player, who had eight opportunities to secure victory.

A thrilling second-set tie-break swung in favour of the 2024 Wimbledon champion, and the eight-time WTA titleholder completed a 1-6, 7-6 (13), 6-3 comeback in three hours and four minutes to defeat a second American player on her way to this year’s quarter-finals.

Another impressive aspect of that win is Krejcikova’s consistent ability to win matches that go the distance at the Slams over the past 12 months, with the 29-year-old winning seven of eight such contests since last year’s Championships.

Now into the last eight in New York for the first time since 2021, the Czech star, whose results previously included two second-round exits and a first-round loss, now strives to reach her third Grand Slam semi-final and her first in the United States.

On the opposite side of the net is Pegula, whose journey to the last eight has been smooth, with the 31-year-old barely breaking a sweat from round one to four, spending one hour and 38 minutes in her victory over Victoria Azarenka, her longest match so far.

Sunday's victory over fellow American Ann Li took 54 minutes, during which the 2024 US Open runner-up dropped three games en route to a 6-1, 6-2 win.

Strikingly, every match involving the former world No. 3 has seen her break opponents six times per round, bringing her total to 24 — the most of any player.

However, Krejcikova (20) is second in that statistic, adding intrigue ahead of this encounter between two players with a history of succeeding on their opponent's deliveries.

Indeed, it will be interesting to see how Pegula performs in another Slam quarter-final, having finally broken her unlucky streak 12 months ago.

The American had been unsuccessful in six previous last-eight matches until she ended that undesired run by defeating Iga Swiatek.

Now, the 31-year-old aims to reach the semi-finals for the consecutive year, where she could face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or Marketa Vondrousova.

Tournament so far

Jessica Pegula:

First round: vs. Mayar Sherif 6-0 6-4

Second round: vs. Anna Blinkova 6-1 6-3

Third round: vs. Victoria Azarenka 6-1 7-5

Fourth round: vs. Ann Li 6-1 6-2

Barbora Krejcikova:

First round: vs. Victoria Mboko 6-3 6-2

Second round: vs. Moyuka Uchijima 6-4 6-2

Third round: vs. Emma Navarro 4-6 6-4 6-4

Fourth round: vs. Taylor Townsend 1-6 7-6 (13) 6-3

Head To Head

WTA Finals (2024) - Round Robin: Krejcikova 6-3 6-3

Dubai (2023) - Semi-final: Krejcikova 6-1 5-7 6-0

Australian Open (2023) - Fourth round: Pegula 7-5 6-2

Pegula beat Krejcikova in their first meeting on the women’s tour, but the Czech player has since won back-to-back matches to lead 2-1 in their head-to-head.

The 29-year-old’s victories have also come on hard courts in Dubai and Saudi Arabia towards the end of 2024, further boosting the eight-time titleholder’s optimism.

However, Pegula’s only success did occur at a Grand Slam in Australia two years ago, and the world No. 4 aims for a repeat on Tuesday.

We say: Pegula to win in two sets

You get the impression that Pegula must win in two sets to avoid falling prey to marathon woman Krejcikova, who has spent over five hours on court across the past two rounds.

We are backing the American No. 2 to end the Czech player’s dream run in New York, thereby reaching another semi-final after last year’s run to the final.