The World number seven has now begun her 2025 season after a knee injury forced her to miss the Brisbane International.

But the 30-year-old is back to full fitness and she has now commenced the new campaign in Adelaide, where she is into the quarter-finals.

How does Jon Wertheim think Jessica Pegula will perform at the Australian Open?

Jessica Pegula will relish the chance to compete for the Australian Open once again after making her first Grand Slam final in 2024.

The World number seven reached the championship match at the US Open, where she was beaten 5-7 5-7 by World number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Pegula has reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park on three occasions, and her performances in Adelaide suggest she can reach the last eight in 2025.

Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim likes what he has seen from Pegula so far this week and thinks she is one to watch when the Australian Open gets underway.

“Looked pretty good. Looked not unlike a player who reached the finals of the last major in New York,” Wertheim said on the Tennis Channel Live podcast.

“She was in New York a few weeks ago for the exhibition and had talked about how the lapse last year may have helped her and gave her some time to clear her head and then finishing strong that second half of the season.

“I thought she looked good yesterday and this is a player to watch when the Australian Open kicks off in a few days.”

Jessica Pegula off to a strong start in Adelaide ahead of Australian Open

On Wednesday Pegula won her first match of the year in convincing fashion against Maria Sakkari. She lost just four games in a swift victory to equal her rivalry with the Greek player at five wins apiece.

On Thursday Pegula played compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, and was leading 6-4, 2-0 before the 20-year-old retired hurt.

She will face Yulia Putintseva for a spot in the finals following her epic quarter-final win over Diana Shnaider. “I like being match-tough,” Pegula said before the tournament.

“But at the same time I know if I can just get a few matches, get that confidence, I can also do well without a lot of prep, too. I think you want to look at both those sides.

“To start the year, I definitely like playing an event. Who doesn’t want to start off the year on a good note, too. This tournament is really tough. If I can do well here with the way the draw is, I feel like it will give me a lot of confidence going into AO.”

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