American Jessica Pegula storms back to reach 1st career US Open final in victory over Karolina Muchova

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Jessica Pegula’s road to her first career Grand Slam final was not an easy one. 

The 30-year-old was dominated in the first set by Karolína Muchová in the U.S. Open semifinal on Thursday.

Muchova won the set 6-1, taking 30 of the set's 44 total points, while being responsible for 10 of the first 12 winners in the match. The first set was only 28 minutes.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Jessica Pegula (USA) reacts after beating Karolina Muchova (CZE) on day 11 of the 2024 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)

Pegula, playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal, was rattled.

"I came out flat, but she was playing unbelievable. She made me look like a beginner," Pegula said. "I was about to burst into tears, because it was embarrassing. She was destroying me."

The beginning of the second set was not very different from the first. Muchova was a single point away from a commanding 3-0 lead but could not convert break point, and Pegula had found some life.

That game began a stretch when Pegula won nine of 11 games, taking the second set 6-4 and then starting out the third set 3-0. 

"I was able to find a way, find some adrenaline, find my legs. And then at the end of the second set, into the third set, I started to play like how I wanted to play. It took a while," Pegula said.

JESSICA PEGULA SHOOTS DOWN 'OUTRAGEOUS' BUTLER SERVICE RUMORS BEFORE BEATING NO 1 SEED IN US OPEN

Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic reacts after losing a point to Jessica Pegula of the United States during the women's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships