Pegula survives Azarenka 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 to achieve Charleston Open semis
Jessica Pegula, one in every of two remaining People and the #1 seed, took on former world #1 and two-time grand slam champion, Victoria Azarenka for a coveted spot within the ultimate 4. The thirty-four-year-old from Belarus was searching for her first clay courtroom semi since 2013 Roland Garros together with her final title on the grime in Marbella in 2011.
Pegula, three years her junior, reached the semis on the Credit score One Open final yr (l. Bencic) and remains to be seeking her first tour-level clay courtroom title. Pegula’s spherical of 16 match towards Magda Linette was easy and in straight units however battled for 2 ½ hours within the earlier spherical with fellow American Amanda Anisimova earlier than prevailing 7-3 within the ultimate set tiebreak.
Azarenka led the head-to-head 3-2 together with their final match within the quarters on the 2023 Australian Open. She is presently ranked #26 and was seeded 12th in Charleston. After breezing by way of her first match towards Elisabetta Cocciaratto, she battled for 2 ¾ hours towards the formidable left-handed American, Taylor Townsend.
Azarenka received the toss and elected to serve. She opened with a backhand volley winner however confronted two deuce and three break factors earlier than holding whereas Pegula struck two forehand winners and held to 15 to degree.
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Azarenka opened with a double fault however with a superb backhand down the road held simply to 15 for 2-1 whereas Pegula made 4/5 first serves and held to 15 for 2-2. The 2-time Australian Open champion missed 4/5 fist serves, confronted triple break level, and dumped serve when Pegula crushed a backhand down the line.
The #1 American missed 4/6 first serves and gave again the break when Azarenka executed a deft backhand drop shot. The previous world #1 was unable to consolidate the break because the forehand unforced errors continued to accrue. Pegula serving with new balls up 4-3, confronted double break level however with two excellent backhand winners, held for 5-3.
Azarenka serving to remain within the set, made 4/5 first serves and held simply to 15 for 4-5. Pegula led 30-0 however quickly confronted break level following two consecutive backhand winners from Azarenka. She reached set level following two return errors and secured it with a spectacular crosscourt forehand.
Azarenka served first within the second and held simply to 15 whereas Pegula held to 30 with two consecutive winners together with her first ace. Azarenka opened the third recreation with a double fault and dropped serve following two consecutive winners from the American.
Pegula gifted three unforced errors and confronted double break level however with an unimaginable forehand down the road, held for 3-1. Azarenka opened the fifth with one other double fault and with a slew of unforced errors together with two extra double faults, confronted three break factors but managed to carry together with her first ace and an overcooked return.
Pegula donated three unforced errors and dumped serve whereas Azarenka, serving with new balls, made 4/5 first serves and consolidated the break for 4-3. The American clearly annoyed together with her degree, dedicated three extra errors and dumped serve whereas Azarenka made 3/4 first serves and held simply to 15 to clinch the set.
Pegula served first within the decider and dropped serve and Azarenka returned the favor. Pegula opened the third with a netted forehand and as soon as once more dumped serve when Azarenka pummeled a backhand down the road. Azarenka missed 4/4 first serves together with two extra double faults and gave again the break. Stage at 2-2, Pegula struck two aces and for the primary time, held serve.
Azarenka opened with a double fault and although she confronted three deuce and three break factors, held for 3-3 with two excellent forehand winners whereas Pegula made 3/5 first serves and held to 15 for 4-3. Azarenka opened the eighth with a unprecedented forehand down the road on the run and with a forehand winner crosscourt and let wire winner, reached parity.
The #1 seed made 4/5 first serves and held simply to 15 whereas the previous world #1 serving to remain within the match, gifted one other double fault, confronted three deuce and 4 match factors however with the right mixture of offense and protection, held for 5-5!
The partisan crowd totally engaged all through this enthralling battle, cheered on their cost as she held at love for 6-5. Azarenka serving to remain within the match and power the breaker, struck two consecutive forehand winners and with a giant serve up the tee, held for 6-6.
The gamers modified ends degree at 3-3. Azarenka struck two consecutive winners together with a backhand volley and drop shot and reached triple match level at 6-3. Along with her twelfth double fault and two consecutive winners from Pegula, they as soon as once more modified ends degree at 6-6.
Azarenka reached match level after Pegula netted a forehand however with a wonderful crosscourt backhand winner, Pegula leveled at 7-7. After two and half hours, the Buffalo native would clinch the breaker, safe victory, and attain the penultimate spherical following two consecutive forehand errors from Azarenka.
It was a high-quality, entertaining, and unpredictable match as each gamers repeatedly wrestled management from the opposite. Azarenka’s dozen double faults value her the match as she was simpler on break factors transformed, in addition to second serve and second serve return factors received.
Subsequent up for Pegula, world #11, Daria Kasatkina. The twenty-six-year-old Russian took out the red-hot Romanian, Jacqueline Cristian in three tight units to achieve the semis at this WTA 500 occasion.
Pegula has overwhelmed Kastakina twice in three conferences together with on the grime in Rome in 2021. Her solely loss got here this yr in Adelaide through a walkover. Kastakina will pose a big problem for the American for she is comfy on the grime, having received this occasion in 2017 and reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2022.
