Jessica Pegula withdraws from WTA 500 Singapore Open after gruelling US hard-court swing
Synopsis
Jessica Pegula, carrying a season-leading 50 wins and ranked a career-high No. 3, is sitting out the Singapore Open after a gruelling North American hard-court run that took her to two finals, a Toronto Round of 16, and a second straight US Open semifinal. Her next stop is the China Open WTA 1000 — and the Asian Swing title race just got more unpredictable.
Key Takeaways
Jessica Pegula has withdrawn from the WTA 500 Singapore Open (21–27 September) due to fatigue from the American hard-court season.
Pegula cited the physical demands of the US Open as the primary reason, announcing the decision via an Instagram story .
She went 15-4 during the North American hard-court swing and leads the WTA Tour with 50 wins this season.
Pegula reached the finals in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati , and the semifinals of the US Open for the second consecutive year.
She is third in the Race to the WTA Finals with 5,825 points ; World No.
5 Mirra Andreeva takes over as top seed in Singapore.
Pegula is still scheduled to compete at the China Open later in the month.
Jessica Pegula, currently ranked a career-high No. 3 in the WTA Rankings, has withdrawn from the WTA 500 Singapore Open to recover from an intensive stretch on the American hard-court circuit that culminated at the US Open. The 32-year-old American announced her decision on social media, citing physical fatigue ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to run from 21 September to 27 September.
Pegula's Statement on the Withdrawal
In an Instagram story, Pegula expressed her disappointment at having to step away from the event. “I’m really disappointed to have to withdraw from Singapore,” she wrote. “After a long and physically demanding few weeks at the US Open, I’m just not quite ready to get back on court and compete at the level I expect from myself.” She added that she had been “really looking forward to playing in Singapore” and hoped to return in the future.
An Exceptional Hard-Court Run
Pegula’s decision comes on the back of a remarkable but exhausting North American hard-court season. She reached the final in Washington, D.C. and in Cincinnati, advanced to the Round of 16 in Toronto, and then pushed through to the semifinals of the US Open for the second consecutive year. Across the swing, she went 15-4 in win/loss record, and her 50 wins on the WTA Tour this season lead the entire circuit. She also sits third on the Race to the WTA Finals leaderboard with 5,825 points.
Impact on the Singapore Draw
Pegula was slated to be the top seed in Singapore. With her withdrawal, that position passes to World No. 5 Mirra Andreeva. The 28-player field still features a strong lineup, including Top 20 players Amanda Anisimova and Alexandra Eala, as well as Maja Chwalinska, Elise Mertens, Barbora Krejcikova, and Maria Sakkari.
What Comes Next for Pegula
Despite skipping the Singapore Open, Pegula remains in the schedule for the China Open, the first of back-to-back WTA 1000 events at the end of the month. The Singapore Open and the Korea Open—both kicking off on 21 September—mark the opening leg of the Asian Swing, a stretch that will play a decisive role in shaping the end-of-year rankings. Notably, Pegula’s withdrawal underscores the physical toll of the condensed hard-court calendar on even the fittest players in the game.
Point of View
Masters and 500-level events leave elite players with almost no margin for recovery. For a player ranked No. 3 and third in the Race to the WTA Finals, the calculus of protecting long-term health over a single 500-point event is straightforward — but it also highlights a structural tension in women’s tennis that the tour has yet to resolve. With the China Open WTA 1000 next in line, Pegula cannot afford another injury setback; sitting out Singapore may well be the shrewdest decision of her season.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jessica Pegula withdraw from the Singapore Open?
Jessica Pegula withdrew from the WTA 500 Singapore Open because of physical fatigue accumulated during a long and demanding North American hard-court season, including runs to finals in Washington D.C. and Cincinnati and a US Open semifinal. She announced the decision via an Instagram story, saying she was ‘not quite ready to get back on court and compete at the level I expect from myself.’
Who replaces Pegula as top seed at the Singapore Open?
World No. 5 Mirra Andreeva steps in as the new top seed following Pegula’s withdrawal. The 28-player field also includes Amanda Anisimova, Alexandra Eala, Barbora Krejcikova, Maria Sakkari, Elise Mertens, and Maja Chwalinska.
When is the WTA 500 Singapore Open 2026?
The Singapore Open runs from 21 September to 27 September 2026, marking the opening tournament of the Asian Swing alongside the Korea Open, which begins on the same date.
How has Jessica Pegula performed in the 2026 season so far?
Pegula has had an exceptional 2026 season, leading the WTA Tour with 50 wins and carrying a 15-4 record during the American hard-court swing alone. She is ranked a career-high No. 3 and sits third in the Race to the WTA Finals with 5,825 points.
Will Pegula play any tournaments after skipping Singapore?
Yes, Pegula is still scheduled to compete at the China Open, the first of back-to-back WTA 1000 events at the end of September 2026.
