World number 70 Clara Burel upset number 5 seed Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-2 in 70 minutes to advance to the third round at the Australian Open on Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne for the first time in her career.
Burel has reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the fourth time in her career.
Pegula earned an early break in the first game of the opening set. Burel converted her third break-back point in the second game. Burel earned another break on her second set in a three-deuce 10th game to seal the first set 6-4.
Pegula earned an early break in the first game to open up a 2-0 lead. Burel broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2 before earning three break point at 3-2 with a down the line winner. She broke serve to open up a 4-2 lead. Burel won her sixth consecutive game from 0-2 down with her third break to clinch the second set 6-2. Burel ended the match with eight more winners and five fewer unforced errors than Pegula.
“I think I played a very solid performance today. I was really focused. I did not let her come into this match. I was very solid, and I am really happy about this match today. I did not play much against the top 10, so it’s definitely the best win of my career”, said Burel.
Burel has clinched the first top 10 win of her career. She set up a Round of 16 match against her compatriot Oceanie Dodin, who advanced to the third round at a Grand Slam tournament by beating Italy’s Martina Trevisan 6-4 6-4.
Burel scored her previous two top 25 wins against Elena Rybakina at the 2022 US Open and Karolina Pliskova at the 2023 edition of the Grand Slam tournament in New York.
“I just saw that we have three French women in the third women. It didn’t happen since a few years. It’s really nice to see everyone playing well”, said Burel.
