Pegula claims to be among the top three on hard courts and questions why she hasn't won a Grand Slam; can Serena win after her comeback?

Even though Pegula skipped the current Doha 1000 event, this affluent American still successfully grabs a notable share of attention among her peers without competing.

In a recent interview, when discussing her hard-court skills, Pegula confidently placed herself "within the world’s top three," immediately attracting the focus of fans and online audiences.

Judging by Pegula’s record so far, hard courts are undoubtedly her strongest surface: out of nine singles titles, seven came on hard courts; and out of ten runner-up finishes, nine were also on hard courts.

Regarding Grand Slam results, the Australian Open and US Open—both hard-court majors—are where this American has performed best; she reached the semifinals at the former in 2024 and was runner-up at the latter in 2024.

Because Pegula’s hard-court achievements surpass most active female players, her self-assessment of being top three on hard courts has not sparked much controversy.

When asked why she believes her hard-court level ranks among the world’s top three, Pegula provided a rather convincing explanation.

“Those who have beaten me have all reached Grand Slam finals, some even winning titles.” According to Pegula, her confidence in being among the top three on hard courts comes from the fact that the players who defeated her at hard-court Slams went on to achieve excellent results, which she sees as the truest reflection of her own level.

Looking at Pegula’s recent performances in hard-court Grand Slams, it’s clear that what she says is accurate!

In the 2024 US Open final, Sabalenka defeated Pegula to claim the title; in the 2025 US Open, Sabalenka again beat her in the semifinals before successfully defending her crown; at the 2026 Australian Open, Rybakina overcame the American star in the semifinals and went on to win the championship, shedding her previous Grand Slam underdog label.

When Pegula raised this highly discussed topic, she also posed a painfully honest question to the public: given her outstanding hard-court ability, why has she yet to win a Grand Slam title?

“At 31 years old, I still haven’t secured my first Grand Slam championship, which is truly heartbreaking.” This statement reveals her inner frustration and helplessness openly to the world.

However, this wealthy American is known for her optimism; although disappointed about not having won a Grand Slam, she humorously describes herself as a “good luck charm who helps others win titles,” joking that “this actually gives me a sense of achievement.”

After Pegula’s remarks were reported by the media, they unsurprisingly sparked a strong reaction among fans and netizens.

Some expressed deep sympathy for the American, encouraging her not to lose hope, reminding her that she is very close to her first Grand Slam victory and urging her to persist, as success may be just around the corner.

Others cited her friend Keys as an example, hoping Pegula would take inspiration from her. Since reaching the US Open final in 2017, Keys’ Grand Slam results were inconsistent for several years, but she finally achieved her dream by winning the Australian Open last year.

The point made with Keys is that, being around the same age as Pegula, Keys’ persistence paid off, and they believe Pegula can also succeed if she keeps fighting through the challenges.

Some answered Pegula’s tough question frankly, saying her hard-court level is indeed very high, and the reason she hasn’t won a Grand Slam yet isn’t due to her skill but rather bad luck. Losing to Sabalenka and Rybakina—members of the women’s tennis “Big Three”—is understandable. With better luck, facing different opponents might have led to a different outcome.

Serena Williams unexpectedly became another hot topic of discussion, sparked by American player Parks.

“I recently trained with Serena, and her form is outstanding. I believe she could easily beat me. Even now, despite being 44, she shows no signs of decline; her shot-making and movement are fully on par with younger players.” Parks emphasized that her personal experience training alongside Serena convinced her that the legendary American could still win a Grand Slam if she returned, and she is confident that age will not be a disadvantage despite Serena’s long absence from competition.

Although everyone knows it’s extremely unlikely Serena will make a comeback, some netizens have called on Parks to try and persuade her to return. Beyond hoping for the Queen’s return to dominate, they are curious whether the 23-time Grand Slam champion can still unleash incredible power on the major stage and command respect from the women’s tour players.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Sky)