Jessica Pegula beats Yanina Wickmayer to reach Korea Open final

Jessica Pegula secures place in Korea Open final with victory over Yanina Wickmayer

In an impressive display of skill, Jessica Pegula defeated Yanina Wickmayer with a score of 6-4, 6-3 to reach the final of the Korea Open. The fourth-ranked Pegula successfully fended off a late challenge from Wickmayer, who is ranked 83rd in the world, to seal her win. For the final, Pegula will face off against Yuan Yue, ranked 128th.

Pegula’s strong performance in the first set allowed her to take the lead, and she further extended her advantage in the second set, ultimately securing a convincing victory over Wickmayer.

“As someone who is half-Korean, reaching the final here is an achievement that I will always cherish,” said Pegula. “While I hope to win, it is an honor to be here, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Having already claimed titles at Montreal and Tokyo earlier this year, Pegula is aiming to add another title to her collection during the tour’s Asian swing. Her final match against Yuan will mark their first encounter on Sunday.

Yuan Yue, the 25-year-old Chinese player, staged an impressive comeback against Emina Bektas, winning with a score of 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2. This will be Yuan’s first tour final, and she will be the first Chinese player to compete in a Korean Open final.

Hong Kong Open

Leylah Fernandez secures spot in Hong Kong Open final after defeating Anna Blinkova

Leylah Fernandez has reached her first final in 19 months after a remarkable 6-2, 7-5 victory over fifth-seeded Anna Blinkova at the Hong Kong Open. The 21-year-old Canadian displayed outstanding skills in the first set, while Blinkova improved her performance in the second set. Fernandez managed to secure the match-clinching break in the 12th game, winning the match in 78 minutes and advancing to Sunday’s final against Katerina Siniakova.

“This match was incredibly challenging,” Fernandez commented. “Anna is an exceptional player, very powerful, and she came into this match with great confidence. In the first set, I played well, but in the second set, she started making more shots and being more aggressive. I focused on staying calm and drawing inspiration from my coach’s guidance: this is a battle, enjoy it, have fun, and give an entertaining performance for everyone.”

Fernandez’s last final appearance was at Monterrey in March 2022, where she went on to claim the title.

In the other semifinal, Katerina Siniakova comfortably defeated sixth-seeded Martina Trevisan with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Siniakova, who has four career titles, including her most recent win in July at Hamburg, will pose a formidable challenge for Fernandez in the final.

Fernandez previously triumphed over Siniakova in straight sets at the 2022 French Open in their only previous meeting.