Pegula upsets Swiatek to reach semi

Buffalo native beats world No. 1 to break through in major quarterfinal

- HOWARD FENDRICH

The questions wouldn't stop for Jessica Pegula: Why was she 0-6 in Grand Slam quarterfinals heading into her U.S.

Open matchup against No. 1 Iga Swiatek? What could Pegula do about it? Came up during her on-court interview after winning in the previous round. And again at the news conference that followed. And again during a brief TV interview right before striding onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night.

If that all weighed on Pegula, the 30-year-old American hid it well, pulling off a big upset by easily beating Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows and earning a debut trip to the semifinals at a major.

"There have been so many freaking times, and I just kept losing," said Pegula, who has won 14 of her past 15 matches, all on hard courts.