Jessica Pegula, the world’s No. 3 player and 2024 US Open finalist, is entering the 2025 season with lingering questions about her fitness after a knee injury disrupted her offseason plans. Pegula, who was set to start her campaign at the Brisbane International, had to withdraw from the WTA 500 tournament due to the same knee issue that forced her out of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Knee Injury Lingers Into 2025
The 30-year-old American ended her 2024 season on a disappointing note, losing her first two matches at the WTA Finals before withdrawing due to knee discomfort. Pegula had hoped for a strong start in Brisbane, where she would have been seeded second, but her knee injury required additional recovery time.
“I was kind of battling a little bit of a knee injury that I withdrew [from the WTA Finals] with,” Pegula explained in Adelaide. “I felt like [my offseason] went well, but I just needed kind of a little bit of an extra week. That’s why I opted out of playing Brisbane and starting here instead.”
Late Entry in Adelaide: A Tactical Adjustment
With limited time to prepare for the Australian Open, Pegula made an unusual decision to enter the Adelaide International, a tournament held just a week before the season’s first Grand Slam. Typically, Pegula prefers to play earlier warm-up events, but her injury left her with few alternatives.
“Normally, I’d probably play more than one [tournament] before a Slam, maybe not the week before a Slam,” Pegula admitted. “At the same time, I was dealing with an injury. That’s just kind of how the schedule worked out. I’m excited to definitely play some matches before going into the Australian Open.”
As the top seed in Adelaide, Pegula has a first-round bye and will face either Linda Noskova or Maria Sakkari in the second round. Her presence in a stacked draw will serve as both a test of her physical condition and a chance to regain momentum ahead of Melbourne.
A Challenging Path Ahead
Pegula’s decision to compete in Adelaide comes with risks. Playing a high-stakes tournament just days before a Grand Slam isn’t ideal preparation, especially when nursing a recent injury. However, the American remains optimistic, using Adelaide to gauge her readiness.
“The draw is really, really tough, so I think it will be good to test how my body’s feeling and everything,” she said. “I’ll just have to deal with it, I guess, for this week.”
Eyes on the Australian Open
Despite the setbacks, Pegula remains one of the top contenders for the Australian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals last year. Known for her resilience and tactical brilliance, the 30-year-old will look to overcome these early hurdles and make a deep run in Melbourne.
Fans will closely watch her performance in Adelaide, hoping that the knee issue is behind her and that she can continue her rise as one of the sport’s premier players.