Poised Pegula defeats Anisimova in all-American QF at 2026 Australian Open

"When I look back at other quarterfinal matches that I had lost, I just don't know if mentally I was really there," Pegula said, discussing her 0-6 start at that stage of the Slams.

"I think I kind of, I don't know, was happy that I was there and then I think just put a little bit too much pressure on myself to get to that next match, but also, I think I've become a better player where I just know how to be in this position more. I think I have more tools."

Those tools were on full display in a one-sided opening set, with Pegula peaking as Anisimova struggled to find the court. But after Anisimova fought off three break points in the opening game of set two, a seesaw battle unfolded late in the frame.

Pegula was broken for the first time in the match to fall behind 5-3, only to pull ahead 6-5 as she rediscovered her aggressive and consistent best. While she failed to serve out the match, Pegula emphatically closed the match by winning seven straight points from 0-1 in the tiebreak.

Pegula, who hit a career-high ranking of world No. 3 herself in 2022, would equal that mark with two more wins this fortnight. An ever-present in the Top 10 since that 2022 season, Pegula credits her even-keeled personality for her late-career surge.

"I think especially over the last couple of years I've kind of leaned into what my strengths are," she said, "and that is stability and my mental toughness and my ability to, you know, stay calm out there on the court and kind of just lean into that and really kind of own that."

That sense of calm will be further helped by Pegula's recent experience in the money rounds of the US Open. But even with her runs to the New York final and semifinal the past two years, Pegula's 20-6 record in Melbourne is her best at the majors by win percentage (77%).

At an event where she reached three consecutive quarterfinals from 2021-23, this could be her best chance yet at Grand Slam glory.