Jessica Pegula, the fourth seed, is enjoying her fourth consecutive year of triumph at the Miami Open quarterfinal. She demonstrated her prowess on the court by defeating 23rd seed Marta Kostyuk with a stunning 6-2 6-3 scoreline in a match that lasted 83 minutes. Pegula’s aggressive playing style was evident as she consistently put Kostyuk’s serve under intense pressure, leading to 19 break point opportunities, five of which she converted successfully.
Despite the mounting pressure, Pegula remained firm on her serve. The American tennis star faced a mere four break points and only lost her serve once during the game. Kostyuk’s single break of serve was in the second set, where she momentarily led 3-0 until Pegula took control of the game, winning the subsequent six games.
However, it’s worth noting that Kostyuk was not at her physical best during the match. The Ukrainian tennis player was visibly troubled by back pain, necessitating multiple physio visits during the game. Despite her brave efforts, Kostyuk was unable to hold onto her early second-set lead and eventually succumbed to Pegula with 2-6, 3-6 in the fourth round of the Miami Open.
The stage is now set for a thrilling quarterfinal match between Jessica Pegula and Emma Raducanu. Pegula, at the age of 30, is preparing for her second Miami semifinal, this time against Raducanu who is currently experiencing one of her best runs in recent years.
On Monday, Raducanu defeated Amanda Anisimova with an impressive 6-1 6-3 victory, earning her a place in her first WTA 1000 semifinal. Prior to her victory over Anisimova, the 2021 US Open champion claimed her first top-10 win on hard court by defeating world No. 10 Emma Navarro in the second round.
Pegula acknowledged Raducanu’s exceptional performance against Navarro and asserted that the 22-year-old British tennis star could pose a significant threat to any player when she’s at her best. “When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players. I just think she struggled a little bit with injuries, finding consistency,” Pegula offered her insight on Raducanu’s journey so far.
This upcoming quarterfinal showdown is anticipated to be an engaging match, promising high-level tennis from both players. As Pegula and Raducanu prepare to face off, tennis enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await to see who will emerge victorious in this thrilling encounter.