OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 12, 2023

Jessica Pegula

Press Conference

J. PEGULA/I. Swiatek

6-2, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Your second win over the No. 1 player and through to the final. How are you feeling right now?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I feel great. Always nice to beat the No. 1 player in the world and also to make it to the final.

It was a great match. It was tough. Kind of a roller coaster. Really up and down, but I'm glad I was able to hold my nerve there at the end.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Have you ever been in a match where both players have had difficulty holding their serve, and do you have any idea why?

JESSICA PEGULA: I'm sure it's probably happened before. I don't know why this week. All of us seem to be really having trouble, even girls that are considered the best servers on tour.

It's weird. It feels like the conditions, it's flying a little bit, it's swirling. I know it's also the first week we're playing with the Wilson extra duty balls, which are usually what the men play with. So that's the first time we're testing that out, this week, next week, and through the US Open.

I think they're a little bit heavier, so they're not quite coming off the racket as well or maybe we're not used to it, so I think maybe that's why. Also, it's just a change in the balls.

Q. What's the ball again?

JESSICA PEGULA: We're using Wilson extra duty. Usually we use regular duty. So they switched it this year.

Q. Even at the US Open?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yes.

Q. You lost in the semis the last two years in Canada. Third time is a charm, I guess, for you?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I hope so. I hope third time is a charm. Yeah, to win the tournament as well tomorrow. I've always played really well here, and I've lost a couple of tough matches in semifinals here as well.

Yeah, I remember I lost a tough one to Halep last year and then another one to Giorgi. Again, they both went on to win the tournament, so I hope that means that I can get the win tomorrow.

Q. I was wondering what was going through your head when you had the chance to serve, and you lost that, and how did you I guess get it back together?

JESSICA PEGULA: I don't know. I felt like if I could have held to go up 5-3 in the second, I could have broken her judging by the fact that I was breaking a lot.

But she hit one good return, and then I made a bad forehand error. It was swirling with the wind, and I kind of took my mind off of it. So then that kind of happened.

I felt like then after that she started to play really well. Even though I served for it at 5-4, I thought she played a great game. She hit two lines and just went for her shots, and sometimes that just happens.

Then in the third, yeah, got down to break. I was getting frustrated that I wasn't holding, but then at the same time I knew she was having trouble holding as well. So I just wanted to keep -- just hold that game, and I was, like, I know I'll get more chances if I can just hold.

So that was just basically it was whoever could kind of consolidate the break. So, yeah, mentally it was just trying to play the right spots on your serve, make first serves.

I don't know. Sometimes it feels like it's really difficult, and sometimes you hold easy. So I don't know really what it is, but I think it's just trying not to get too frustrated.

Q. In the tiebreak of the second set you were leading 4-2, and then there was the mistake by the DJ, and she went to win the five next points to win the set. Did it derange you?

JESSICA PEGULA: I just thought it was funny. I've never had that happen, let alone with "Cotton-Eyed Joe." I was, like, is this really happening right now? Of all the songs. It was just, like, what is going on?

Yeah, it was a bummer because I hit a really good lob, and she barely got it, and I had a really good play on the ball, and she was kind of out of position from the lob that I hit.

So, I mean, I don't know if I would have won the point. Maybe. I would have been up 5-2, but that doesn't mean I'm going to win the tiebreaker.

I think the wind started shifting, so I felt like I was really against the wind on that side, the side that that point happened on.

She was playing really aggressive, and I was kind of on my back foot a lot for the rest of that tiebreak. So, again, I felt like -- I told myself going into the third I need to play more aggressive on that side and really try to get better depth on my shots.

Then on the other side it was kind of the opposite. You don't have to go for as much because I was with the wind.

So I think it was tough switching sides. Yeah, maybe that point would have been nice, but you don't know really what's going to happen.

Q. Just a funny one. I just saw a video of you opening a beer last year when you lost to Iga. Do you think of allowing yourself a beer?

JESSICA PEGULA: I don't know. Maybe after the tournament, yeah. Maybe I'll allow myself after the tournament to have a beer.

But, yeah, no, that was a funny moment. I get so many people that are, like, I loved when you drank the beer last year.

I'm, like, Okay (laughing). I'm glad everyone enjoyed it.

Q. What can you say about your potential next opponent, and are you going to watch the game tonight?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I'll definitely watch. Hopefully they get the match in, if it doesn't rain.

Very two similar players. Serve big, hit big, like to really go after their shots. Both really tall, physical girls.

I really feel like it's a toss-up. I'm not really sure who is going to win, but whoever wins, I feel like it's a very similar game plan. Trying to take away their serve and then doing my best to -- I think to just play my game.

I think I match up well against them at the same time, but it will be tough. They're two big servers that play very aggressive, so we'll see what happens.

I played both of them before, so nothing really that new.