Jessica Pegula out to break new ground in Paris

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An ecstatic Jessica Pegula

American No 1 Jessica Pegula hopes to be able to break new ground at Roland Garros this season.

Pegula is yet to go beyond the last eight at a Grand Slam having reached the quarter-finals at five Majors.

She feels that another run to the same stage would be a good effort on clay.

“I hope to make another quarter-final,” Pegula told Eurosport.

“I think that would be another amazing result for me, especially on clay, but yeah, I think to go further, I think you have to get to those points first and you have to just keep playing your game every single match.

“And I think that that’s what helps build confidence and takes you through the later rounds.”

As the only American to make it past the quarterfinals of a high-level clay event this season, Pegula could be her nation’s best chance of another French Open title.

She is the highest ranked American on either side of the draw and holds the third seeding for the second Grand Slam of the year.

Pegula has seen a new elite of women’s tennis seemingly emerge around her and says that she hopes to keep pace with the top players.

She added that any player in the field could really win the French Open with fierce competition on display on the women’s side of the draw.

Pegula hopes that she can up her game to compete with the likes of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.

“Yeah, it’s kind of fun to have more of a ‘Big Three’ on the women’s side,” Pegula said.

“I think still anybody can win any tournament any week, but I think they’ve definitely stepped up, obviously.

“I have been at the top and then seeing Aryna [Sabalenka] be right there and break through this year at the Australian Open along with Elena [Rybakina] last year at Wimbledon.

“So it’s been very interesting and I think, they all are so different, personality-wise, and in the way they play.

“It’s been really fun to kind of watch them and also challenge myself as well to see how I can, you know, play better and really challenge them and hopefully get wins against them.”

Pegula will also enter the women’s doubles with compatriot and frequent partner Coco Gauff with both Americans ranked in the doubles top ten as well.

She will face countrywoman Danielle Collins in the opening round of the French Open.

READ MORE: Iga Swiatek’s No 1 status on the line at Roland Garros

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