Jessica Pegula beats Amanda Anisimova in all-American clash in Charleston - UBITENNIS

Jessica Pegula beats Amanda Anisimova in all-American clash in Charleston

By sampaolo
3 Min Read

Number 1 seed Jessica Pegula came back from one set down to beat Amanda Anisimova 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) after 2 hours and 26 minutes in an American second round clash reaching the Round of 16 at the Credit One Charleston Open. 

Anisimova broke twice in the second and fourth games to race out to a 4-0 lead. Pegula pulled one of the two breaks back in the seventh game and held serve at 30. Anisimova served out the first set 6-3 with a hold at 30.

Pegula broke Anisimova at love in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Anisimova broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Pegula earned a second break at love in the 10th game to seal the second set 6-4 levelling the match at one set apiece. 

Both teams traded breaks in the seventh and eighth games. Pegula held her first match point at 5-4 on Anisimova’s serve. However Anisimova saved it with a passing winner. 

Pegula earned five match points for 6-1 with a backhand winner in the tie-break. Anisimova hit two backhands to reduced her gap to 3-6, but she misefired on a forehand on the next point. 

Anisimova hit 12 more winners than Pegula, but she made 23 more unforced errors. 

Pegula set up a Round of 16 match against Magda Linette, who came back from one set down to beat Dayana Yastremska 0-6 6-4 6-3. Pegula beat Linette in their only previous head-to-head match in Miami last year. 

“It’s always a tough match against Anisimova, because she is a really great ball striker, and she can really take the raquet out of your hands. When she is hot, it’s really tough. I just had to buckle down, and I started being a little bit more active with my feet and pressuring a little bit more, and being able to move her and scrap out a few points as well. I just found a way today, but it was a really great match. Especially the last set was super high-level”, said Pegula. 

Leave a comment