Well, that was fun.

After Aryna Sabalenka dispatched Emma Navarro with relative ease in the first semi-final, it threatened to be a bit of an underwhelming night when Jessica Pegula was brushed aside in the opening set of her last four tie against Karolina Muchova.

However, Pegula showed the kind of grit and determination you expect from a home hope seeking Grand Slam glory to fight back and win in three sets.

The New York native will have a full backing when she steps out on Arthur Ashe against Sabalenka in Saturday's final.

Now go and get some sleep before we do it all over again this evening with the men's semi-finals when Briton Jack Draper takes on world number one Jannik Sinner!

Thanks for joining us.

American sixth seed Jessica Pegula speaking after beating unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova to reach her first Grand Slam final.

On when she was a set, 2-0 and break point down and Muchova missed a volley: "I was thinking that was kind of lucky and that I was still in this. It comes down to really small moments that flip momentum. I came out flat but she was playing unbelievable.

"She made me look like a beginner, I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing, she was destroying me. I was able to just hold it to that game, find my way, find my legs. At the end of the second set and into the third set I started to play how I wanted to play and it took a while. I don't know how I turned that around, honestly."

On what her coaching staff told her: "They told me to mix up the serve a little bit, keep mixing up the spins and keep her guessing, a few kicks out wide maybe to her backhand and to just play her backhand a little bit more. It was just a few other things. I was able to hone in on a few of those things really early and compete and use my legs and try and think clearly out there."

On her family being there: "It's amazing, I have my brother, sister, my dad, brother in law, my husband. I have so much family here and they have been here watching my matches. To still be here and have them here supporting me is crazy. I'm glad that they are here to share this moment with me."

On facing Aryna Sabalenka in the final: "First of all I'm just glad I was able to turn this match around and figure it out. Playing Aryna is going to be really tough. She showed how tough she is and why she is probably the favourite to win this tournament. It will be a rematch of Cincinnati so hopefully I can get some revenge out here but happy to have a day off. It's crazy that we are playing each other again in the finals. She is going to be obviously tough to beat but that's what the finals are for so I'm ready."

Image source, Reuters

Jessica Pegula, aged 30 years and 193 days, has become the oldest American in the Open Era to reach a first women's singles final at a Grand Slam event.

Pegula is also only the third player in the Open Era to win a women's singles semi-final at the US Open after losing the first set 6-1 (excluding retirements).

Jessica Pegula had never gone beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam prior to this campaign at the US Open.

She exited the Australian Open and Wimbledon in round two earlier this year but has strung together some really impressive performances on home soil over the past two weeks.

Pegula now faces the daunting task of trying to find a way beyond world number two Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's final.

Sabalenka has won five of seven previous encounters against Pegula, including victory in the Cincinnati Open last month.

Jessica Pegula walks across the baseline with a wry smile on her face as she puts a forehand into the net.

Two more match points...

Karolina Muchova opts for an aggressive serve and volley approach from the outset but that plan goes down in flames as she fires into the net.

Jessica Pegula is soon 40-0 up and with three match points on her side.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

You just have to admire Jessica Pegula's resilience and her mental stability in some of these rather wobbly moments because each time she has come through with flying colours.

Her tennis has just got better and better.

A wayward volley hands Jessica Pegula advantage once again and this time she makes it count.

Pegula is just one game away from a first-ever Grand Slam final.

Jessica Pegula attempts a backhand slice and gets it all wrong. Her face says it all as she turns away from court after handing advantage and a break point to Karolina Muchova.

Will the Czech make her pay?

No! A loose backhand is into the net and Muchova launches her racquet into the night sky before running forward to catch it.

Frustration at both ends.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

The level that these two are starting to play at and show this audience, just incredible.

They're using the full court and having to track things down.

Karolina Muchova is tough to stop when she steps up to attack the ball.

She finds the corners so well and gets back to second deuce after Jessica Pegula threatened to hold.

Pegula has a second chance to see out the game, wrapping up a 14-shot rally, to earn advantage.

Muchova opts for aggression again and we have a third deuce.

Jessica Pegula dusts herself down and is quickly 40-0 up on serve.

But two scuffed shots into the net and a long forehand invite Muchova back into the game.

Ooof.

A lovely way to wrap up a hold of serve with Karolina Muchova slotting a backhand into the corner.

Jessica Pegula gets Karolina Muchova running around the court before forcing through a forehand to level at 30-30.

There's a nervous energy coming from the crowd at the moment.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

That was a tricky game for Jessica Pegula to get out of and she did.

She is eight points away from a Grand Slam final.

This will be concerning for Jessica Pegula.

Everything Karolina Muchova hits is coming off.

Muchova sprints beyond the baseline to return an attempted lob and goes win the rally with a lovely drop shot for advantage.

Pegula gets it back to deuce and goes on to hold.

Huge sigh of relief from the American.

Jessica Pegula is trying everything to get this game wrapped up but Karolina Muchova is starting to click once again.

Muchova reads a lob and volleys back across court, catching Pegula on her heels before digging out an unreturnable forehand to get to deuce.

Image source, Getty Images

Karolina Muchova has to hold or this match might be too far out of reach.

The Czech smashes a forehand volley to get on the board in the third set.

Jessica Pegula defends and draws a huge cheer from the crowd as she moves to advantage.

A forehand error from Karolina Muchova and Pegula holds.

That feels like a big moment.