Jessica Pegula booked her place in the China Open semi-finals on Friday with a gritty comeback win over compatriot Emma Navarro, keeping alive the possibility of an all-American final in Beijing. The third seed will now face Czech youngster Linda Noskova for a spot in the championship match.
If Pegula advances, the final could feature three Americans in contention—Amanda Anisimova and Coco Gauff contest the other semi-final—setting up the prospect of a historic all-U.S. showdown. Since the tournament’s launch in 2004, no women’s singles final has featured two Americans.
Pegula Jokes About “Billionaire Battle”
Pegula, whose family owns the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, has long faced playful jabs about her background. Navarro, daughter of billionaire businessman Ben Navarro, is no stranger to similar attention. In Beijing, Pegula leaned into the humor, smiling after her 6–7(3), 6–2, 6–1 victory.
“They call me ‘Dafu’ here in China, which means Big Rich,” Pegula laughed. “They call Emma ‘Second Rich.’ I guess the bigger Dafu won today.”
The lighthearted quip followed a tense first set in which Navarro held off six break points and claimed the tiebreak. But once Pegula settled, she controlled the match, dropping just three games in the final two sets.
Navarro vs Pegula – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Navarro | Pegula |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.82 | 1.22 |
| Serve Rating | 228 | 273 |
| Aces | 5 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 3 |
| 1st Serve % | 63% (52/83) | 69% (66/96) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 62% (32/52) | 71% (47/66) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 45% (14/31) | 47% (14/30) |
| Break Points Saved | 54% (7/13) | 80% (8/10) |
| Service Games | 54% (7/13) | 86% (12/14) |
| Ace % | 6% | 3.1% |
| Double Fault % | 1.2% | 3.1% |
| Return Rating | 116 | 185 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 29% (19/66) | 38% (20/52) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 53% (16/30) | 55% (17/31) |
| Break Points Won | 20% (2/10) | 46% (6/13) |
| Return Games | 14% (2/14) | 46% (6/13) |
| Pressure Points | 39% (9/23) | 61% (14/23) |
| Service Points | 55% (46/83) | 64% (61/96) |
| Return Points | 36% (35/96) | 45% (37/83) |
| Total Points | 45% (81/179) | 55% (98/179) |
| Match Points Saved | 2 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 8 |
| Total Games Won | 33% (9/27) | 67% (18/27) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 5 |
| Match Duration | 2h 09m | |
From Frustration to Freedom
Pegula admitted she had to reset mentally after letting early opportunities slip away.
“I told myself not to get too frustrated. That kind of allowed me to play more free,” she explained.
Navarro, who came into the clash 0–2 in their head-to-head, showed flashes of her recent rise with steady play and sharp defense. But Pegula’s depth and consistency proved decisive, sealing her third straight win over the Charleston native.
American Dominance at Stake
The China Open has previously crowned American champions—most recently Coco Gauff in 2024 and Serena Williams in 2004. With Pegula, Gauff, and Anisimova all in the last four, U.S. tennis is guaranteed at least one finalist.
Whether Noskova can spoil the party remains to be seen, but the narrative is set: American women are pushing for another title in Beijing, and the possibility of a red-white-and-blue final is closer than ever.