Jessica Pegula dropped only seven games en route to registering her first Tour-level win over Aryna Sabalenka in three years at the WTA Finals.
The American rallied to a comprehensive 6-4, 6-3, win over the world No.1 in just under 90 minutes. Pegula broke Sabalenka five times during the match and hit 14 winners against 12 unforced errors. In contrast, the top seed was more erratic as she committed 29 unforced errors and won less than 50% of her second service points.
Pegula’s only blip came when she was tasked with serving the match out. leading by a set and 5-2, she had two match points but hit a duo of double faults before getting broken. Then in the following game, she failed to convert another three match point opportunities before prevailing.
“I clearly got tight on the two doubles, but it happens,” Pegula told The Tennis Channel. “I knew she was going to get hot, she was starting to get fired up. She was starting to play a bit better and she hit some good shots.
“Sometimes there’s not much you can do except try to have a good attitude. I feel like that’s what I tried to do is not let it affect me. I thought I did a good job of that and was able to break her right back, which is less stressful.”
As a result of her latest victory, the 29-year-old has become the first player in this year’s tournament to have secured her place in the semi-finals. Earlier in the week she also beat Elena Rybakina in straight sets. Pegula is now on a five-match winning streak when it comes to playing top 10 players and has won 43 matches on a hardcourt this season which is more than anybody else on the WTA Tour.
“I feel more comfortable playing [top players] this year, I feel more confident,” Pegula said of her mindset at this year’s WTA Finals compared to 12 months ago. “I don’t think it feels like such a big deal. Last year when I made Top 5, I think I psyched myself out a little bit — not a lot. You have a couple thoughts in your head — do I really belong at that level?
“I was always good at beating those below me, but now you have to beat the one or two before you. I think you put a bigger emphasis on that. And I think this year, I’ve not really cared. I’ve had more confidence in those matches and that’s why I’ve got more top wins — in big moments. I feel that’s where I’ve improved a little bit.”
Pegula is 49-0 this year when it comes to winning the opening set.
Rybakina survives test
Embed from Getty ImagesIn the other match that took place on day three, Rybakina fended off a fightback from Maria Sakkari to win 6-0, 6-7(4), 7-6(2). The Kazakh stormed through the opening set in just 22 minutes and had a 4-2 lead in the decider before her rival found her footing to battle back in what was a rollercoaster encounter. Rybakina finally managed to pull away from Sakkari in the final tiebreaker which began with her winning the first six points played.
The former Wimbledon champion has linked both hers and Sakkari’s mixed performances to the controversial state of the court which has drawn criticism from players in this year’s tournament.
“I felt that in the beginning for Maria, it maybe took some time to get used to my speed,” she said.
“As we all know the surface is not the greatest and we were struggling a lot, in the end, it was a very tough match and I’m happy that I managed to win.”
“The serve helped a lot today. I was trying to be not so negative, which was not easy.” She added.
Sakkari has now lost two matches in a row which means she has no chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. It is the first time she has failed to do so in three appearances at the event.
“My biggest win today was that I overcame that fear on the court,” Sakkari said of her clash with Rybakina. “I was points away from perhaps winning that match. I thought that I was going to go down as not playing good and finishing the season not in a good way, but today’s (Tuesday’s) performance was promising.”
Sabalenka to face Rybakina for semi-final spot
Embed from Getty ImagesJoining Pegula in the last four of the event will be either Sabalenka or Rybakina who will face each other in a winner-takes-all clash. The world No.1 leads Rybakina 4-2 in their head-to-head but has lost their two most recent meetings that have taken place this year.
“I still get a chance to pass the group, so I’m trying to stay strong.” Said Sabalenka.
Rybakina currently has a win-loss record of 7-3 against top 10 players so far in 2023 and is currently ranked fourth in the world. This time last year she was 22nd in the standings.
“Now it’s gonna be either you win and you stay or you lose and you go back home,” she said. “So it’s kind of now the same as the other tournaments. It’s not going to be easy, and I’m going to try to do my best.”
The two players will lock horns on Thursday.
