LOCAL hope Jessica Pegula has come from behind to take down Czech Karolina Muchova, denying her opponent a spot in the US Open final, and reaching her maiden Grand Slam decider in the process. The world number six was one point away from being 6-1 3-0 down and almost out of the US Open, but with the crowd on her side, Pegula found a way to win 12 of the last 16 games and storm to victory, 1-6 6-4 6-2.

Pegula needed a full two hours and 12 minutes to oust Muchova, with both players having not dropped a set coming into the semi-final. However the number six seed found herself a set down quickly after only winning one game to start the contest. When Muchova broke in the first game of the second set and had a break point in the third, the reality of a straight sets semi-final exit was on the cards for the Buffalo local.

But the American found a way to get back on top. She won 60 per cent of her second serve points – as well as 54 per cent of her first serve points – and only committed eight unforced errors to Muchova’s 19 in the second set. It came after Pegula only won seven of 17 points on serve in the first set – and 14 points in total.

Once Pegula got a sniff, she put the foot down in the decider, controlling the court with some swift net play (seven of nine points) and serving at a 65 per cent clip, while winning 71 per cent of her first serve points. Though she only hit five winners in the deciding set to Muchova’s 12, Pegula also only committed six unforced errors to the Czech’s 14.

In total, despite Muchova hitting double the amount of winners (34-17), Pegula was far more economical with just 22 unforced errors to the Czech’s 40. She also win 52 per cent of her second serve points and was able to break five times to four by the end of the match.

Pegula will now face world number two Aryna Sabalenka after the Belarusian denied the home fans an all-American US Open final when she knocked off Emma Navarro. Sabalenka – who went down to Coco Gauff in last year’s US Open final – will look to go one better against Pegula.

Sabalenka won 6-3 7-6 against the 13th seed, hitting the same amount of winners as unforced errors (34), while Navarro also had an even split of 13 each. While both players served at an incredibly high rate, Sabalenka won 74 per cent of her first serve points, 82 per cent of her net points, and 43 per cent of her receiving points to be too strong across the board.

The US Open women’s singles final will take place Sunday morning AEST.