Jessica Pegula pulled off a remarkable upset by defeating world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in her second group stage match at the WTA Finals in Cancun. Pegula, who had a poor 1-4 record against Sabalenka, showcased her ability to absorb powerful serves and disrupt Sabalenka’s comeback attempts. Sabalenka, who had expressed concerns about playing on the newly constructed Estadio Paradisus, struggled to find her rhythm and made 29 unforced errors in the match.
In the first set, Sabalenka showed signs of a comeback when she broke Pegula’s serve and won a key service hold to narrow the gap. However, Pegula maintained her composure and secured the set with a backhand into the net by Sabalenka on set point. Pegula continued her dominance in the second set, taking a 4-0 lead. Although Sabalenka staged another rally and broke Pegula’s serve, Pegula managed to close out the match with a backhand mistake from Sabalenka.
After the match, Pegula expressed her frustration with comments suggesting her game lacked power compared to players like Sabalenka. She emphasized that she hits hard and her style of play may not be as heavy as Sabalenka’s, but it is still powerful.
Pegula’s win secured her a spot in the semi-finals, while Elena Rybakina also earned her first win in the competition by defeating Maria Sakkari. Although Rybakina dominated the first set with a 6-0 victory, Sakkari fought back and took the match into tiebreakers. However, Rybakina remained composed and sealed the hard-fought victory in a match that lasted over two hours.
Rybakina will now face Sabalenka in a crucial match to determine the semi-finalist, while Pegula, already through to the semis, will take on Sakkari in their final group stage match.
Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.
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