Pegula saves match points to win late-night thriller in Miami

MIAMI — No.3 Jessica Pegula saved two match factors to advance to her seventh WTA 1000 semifinal, defeating No.26 Anastasia Potapova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) within the Miami Open quarterfinals. A semifinalist in Miami final yr, Pegula turns into the primary American to achieve back-to-back semifinals at Miami since Serena Williams in 2014 and 2015. 

Into her second WTA 1000 semifinal of the season, Pegula will face reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina within the semifinals on Thursday. Rybakina is bidding to grow to be the fifth lady to ever sweep the “Sunshine Double”, profitable Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back in a single season.

Rybakina drops three video games to guide semifinal spot in Miami

Pegula holds a 2-0 head-to-head document in opposition to Rybakina. Their final assembly got here throughout her title run in Guadalajara in October. Pegula saved three match factors to win 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(8).

“I do not thoughts taking part in her, no less than prior to now,” Pegula mentioned. “Clearly she’s picked up her stage since then, so it’s going to be a troublesome check, particularly after this match, simply bodily see how I really feel. Hopefully I can get well in time. No less than I’ve one other day.”

“I believe she and Sabalenka are those to beat proper now so it should be an important check and a deserved semi for a match like this.”

Pegula got here into Tuesday’s match with a 3-0 document in opposition to Potapova, however the American was properly cautious of the problem earlier than her. Their most up-to-date assembly got here two weeks in the past at Indian Wells, the place Potapova had her on the ropes, main 3-1 within the closing set earlier than Pegula mounted a comeback to win.

The beginning of the match was delayed for practically 4 hours as a result of rain, with the gamers taking the court docket at 10:45 p.m. The impact of the prolonged delay was evident from the beginning of the match, as each gamers struggled to seek out their rhythm and depth from the baseline.

However after falling behind 2-0, Potapova performed cleaner, extra persistently aggressive tennis to win 5 straight video games and lead 5-2. Pegula closed the hole to 5-4, however she was damaged for the set after a Potapova backhand skimmed the again fringe of the baseline for a clear winner on set level. 

Pegula responded by halving her unforced error depend (19 to 10), bettering her first serve share (50% to 63%), and going good on her break level possibilities (3 for 3). This time it was Pegula rebounding from a 2-0 deficit, because the American gained 4 consecutive video games to construct a 4-2 lead and power a decider from there.

Potapova got here into the match main the Hologic WTA Tour in three-set wins with an 8-3 document, and she or he proved her mettle as soon as once more down the stretch. On an evening when a 2-0 lead proved precarious, Pegula noticed Potapova win 4 consecutive video games to steer by a break at 4-2. 

“Legs have been heavy at like 2-0 within the third,” Pegula mentioned. “I believe I labored so arduous to win that second set, after which to go up 2-0 to get the break, it simply hit me and I form of had a lull there for a few video games.”

With Potapova serving for the win at 5-4, Pegula saved two match factors from 40-15 down and broke on her third break level to stage the set. Undeterred, Potapova broke instantly to earn a second probability to serve out the win, however once more Pegula broke again, this time to power a deciding tiebreak. 

“She was simply taking part in fearless, simply going for her photographs, shifting effectively,” Pegula mentioned. “The important thing was to not get too pissed off and simply attempt to keep inside one break within the third although I used to be actually gassed. I knew regardless she would get tight making an attempt to shut it out. She received slightly tight and I used to be in a position to take my possibilities.”

This time Pegula constructed a lead she wouldn’t relinquish. Along with her forehand locked in once more, Pegula raced out to a 5-1 lead and closed out the win after 2 hours and 36 minutes. The match ended effectively after 1:00 a.m.

Pegula turned the primary participant to save lots of match factors en path to victory in two matches this season, having finished so in opposition to Jelena Ostapenko throughout her run to the Doha closing in February.