Jessica Pegula ousted from Miami Open

Jess Pegula fought hard all the way but frustration mounted as she lost to Elena Rybakina.

The streak is officially a hex. Jessica Pegula (WTA No. 5) just can’t find the code to crack the Elena Rybakina (WTA No. 4) enigma, dropping her fifth straight match to the Kazakh powerhouse in a heartbreaking 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 collapse at the Miami Open quarterfinals.

For a minute there, it looked like the narrative was finally changing. The Korean American tennis veteran came out like a woman possessed, slicing through the first set 6-2 in a cool 35 minutes while Rybakina looked stuck in the mud. But if we’ve learned anything from this rivalry, it’s that Rybakina is never truly out until the handshake.

The wheels started wobbling in the second set. Pegula, 32, had three chances to break at 2-2—moments that likely would have buried the match—but she couldn't convert. The younger Rybakina smelled the hesitation, cranked up the serve (finishing with 15 aces), and never looked back. By the time they reached the third, the momentum had completely flipped.

The frustration was palpable. Pegula, usually the stoic professional, let the emotions fly with a mid-match rant that caught the mics, proving just how much this specific matchup is living rent-free in her head. Despite actually winning more total points (100 to 98), Pegula remains the bridesmaid in this rivalry.

“I’m putting myself right there,” Pegula told media. “I’m ­giving myself the chances and the ­opportunities, I think I have elevated my game, I’ve become a better player. I am definitely challenging them, both of them. That’s kind of all I can ask of myself and hopefully some of the wins will come along.”

Next up, Jess heads to the green clay of the Credit One Charleston Open, where she’ll look to defend her title starting March 30, 2026. It’s just the reset she needs to flush this hard-court hex and find her footing on the dirt.

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