Jessica pegula

World number three Jessica Pegula powered into a last-16 Australian Open showdown with former Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova after demolishing Marta Kostyuk 6-0, 6-2 on Friday. The in-form Pegula has reached the quarter-finals on her last two visits to Melbourne Park and can make it a hat-trick if she beats the 2021 French Open champion on Sunday. The American third seed needed just 65 minutes to canter past erratic Ukrainian Kostyuk, who committed 39 unforced errors to the consistent Pegula's nine. "I thought I didn't give away a lot of free points. I was playing aggressive when I had to, but also playing smart. So that worked really well," said Pegula. "I wasn't serving great today, but I thought I served smart enough to get myself through some tough games," added Pegula, who was resilient enough to save eight break points as she dropped her serve just once. Pegula and Kostyuk had only met on one previous occasion, in Cincinnati last year, with the Ukrainian taking … [Read more...] about Jessica Pegula Powers Into Barbora Krejcikova Last-16 Showdown At Australian Open | Tennis News

Jessica Pegula surged into the Australian Open quarter-finals in straight sets on Sunday and now looks the woman to beat after world number one Iga Swiatek was knocked out. The American third seed is the highest-ranked woman still standing after beating former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 6-2 in 1hr 41min. Elena Rybakina's victory over Swiatek means the top two seeds in the men's and women's singles are out before the quarter-finals for the first time since the Open era began in 1968. Pegula will face either 24th seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, or China's Zhu Lin for a place in the semi-finals. "I thought I served really well and I had a lot of break-point chances in the first set and I didn't really convert any of them," said the American, who was always in control on John Cain Arena. Pegula had an incredible 18 break-point opportunities across the two sets, mostly in the first, so was frustrated not to have … [Read more...] about Jessica Pegula Powers Into Australian Open Quarters With ‘Some Choice Words’ | Tennis News

Victoria Azarenka reached her first Australian Open semi-final since winning the title in 2013 when she knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday. The Belarusian 24th seed outlasted her American opponent in a marathon 64-minute first set before running away with the second to set up a last-four encounter against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at Melbourne Park. "Well, it hurts to beat her because I always want her to do well," said Azarenka, 33, who also won the Australian Open in 2012 and is a close friend of Pegula's. "But at the same time I have to play my best tennis. She has been playing amazing, very consistent. I knew from the first point I had to bring it." Pegula was in her third Australian Open quarter-final and had never reached the semi-finals of a Slam in four previous attempts, failing to win a set in any of them. It was a sorry statistic that was to be extended under the roof at Rod Laver Arena. The 28-year-old is the epitome of a late … [Read more...] about Victoria Azarenka Beats Jessica Pegula To Reach Australian Open Semi-finals | Tennis News

MELBOURNE, Australia — Victoria Azarenka displayed the same confident brand of hard-hitting baseline tennis that carried her to two Australian Open titles and the No. 1 ranking a decade ago, beating Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday night to return to the semifinals at Melbourne Park. Azarenka won the 2012 and 2013 championships in Australia, but she had not been back to the final four there since then. Now 33 and a mother — she walked out into Rod Laver Arena wearing a jersey from her 7-year-old son’s favorite soccer team, Paris Saint-Germain — Azarenka, who is from Belarus, delivered big shot after big shot, raced to a 3-0 lead in 12 minutes, and never really let the No. 3-seeded Pegula, a good friend, get into the match. “Leo doesn’t really care so much that I’m playing here,” Azarenka said with a laugh. “He worries more about his football and when are we going to go play again. Obviously, he is watching some matches, but he definitely wants his mom to be home. So a few more … [Read more...] about Jessica Pegula, Sebastian Korda lose in Australian Open quarterfinals

Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff fired early warning shots Monday at the Australian Open with blistering straight-sets wins as Rafael Nadal prepares to return to the scene of one of his greatest Grand Slam triumphs. In-form third seed Pegula blitzed past 161st ranked Romanian Jaqueline Cristian on Margaret Court Arena 6-0, 6-1 in a 59-minute romp to signal her intent. Fellow American Coco Gauff, seeded seven, was equally explosive in racing into the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 thumping of Czech Katerina Siniakova on neighbouring Rod Laver Arena. Gauff headed into the first Grand Slam of the year on a high after winning her third WTA title at the Auckland Classic this month, while Pegula was boosted by upsetting world number one Iga Swiatek at the United Cup. "I'm honoured that the tournament decided to choose me and Katerina to open on Rod Laver Arena," said Gauff. Gauff now faces a cracking second-round encounter against the former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who beat … [Read more...] about Pegula, Gauff Signal Intent As Australian Open Begins | Tennis News

World number one Iga Swiatek said Saturday she was ready for an "intense" opening Australian Open match while paying tribute to retired champion Ashleigh Barty for inspiring her to greater heights. Poland's Swiatek begins her Grand Slam campaign on Monday against Jule Neimeier, the German world number 68 who reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year. More recently, the pair clashed in the last 16 at the US Open, where Swiatek had to dig deep after dropping the first set before coming through 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 and going on to win the tournament. "We played in the US Open, and you saw how intense that match was, how tough," Swiatek told reporters. "It's not going to be easy. But any match in a Grand Slam is always more intense and more stressful than other tournaments. I'll be ready for it." Swiatek, the top seed, is a strong favourite for the first Grand Slam of the year in the absence of last year's retired champion Barty. The Australian, who is pregnant, dropped into … [Read more...] about Top Seed Iga Swiatek Inspired By Ashleigh Barty For ‘Intense’ Australian Open | Tennis News

USATSI Iga Swiatek opens as the 2023 Australian Open favorite when first-round play begins on Sunday at Melbourne Park. Swiatek, the top-ranked player in the world, is looking for a second consecutive Grand Slam victory after winning the 2022 U.S. Open. The field, however, also includes a number of other heavy hitters. Among those expected to give Swiatek a run for the title are second-ranked Ons Jabeur and fifth-ranked Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. Swiatek is the +200 betting favorite in the latest 2023 Australian Open women's singles odds at Caesar's Sportsbook. Sabalenka follows at +750, with Caroline Garcia of France and Jessica Pegula of the U.S. at +1000. Other notables have Jabeur and American teenager Coco Gauff at +1200 and sixth-ranked Maria Sakkari of Greece at +2500 to win the grand slam title. Before making any 2023 Australian Open picks on the women's side, you need to see who SportsLine tennis Jose Onorato is backing . Onorato grew up playing competitive tennis … [Read more...] about 2023 Australian Open women’s odds, picks, predictions, schedule, draw: Elite tennis expert fading Iga Swiatek

Rafael Nadal opens his Australian Open title defence Monday feeling vulnerable and against a dangerous young opponent, with women's top seed Iga Swiatek also facing a tricky encounter as she targets a maiden crown. The first Grand Slam of the year kicks off at Melbourne Park with the men's world number one ranking at stake and a new women's champion set to be crowned after Ashleigh Barty's shock retirement following her win last year. Spanish great Nadal, 36, has lost six of his past seven matches, including his opening two this year, ahead of a difficult afternoon clash on Rod Laver Arena against Britain's in-form Jack Draper. "Probably one of the toughest first-round (games) possible, being seeded," said the 22-time Grand Slam winner and top seed. "Young, powerful, growing very, very fast on the ranking, playing well." The fast-improving Draper, 21, made the semi-finals of the Adelaide International this week and said he would not be overawed, despite Nadal being an idol. … [Read more...] about Rafael Nadal Facing Tough Test In Australian Open Defence | Tennis News

World No 1 Iga Swiatek survived a serious examination from German Jule Niemeier in her opening match at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Niemeier was a surprise quarter-finalist at Wimbledon last summer and also took a set off Swiatek in the fourth round of the US Open. There was little to choose between the pair on Rod Laver Arena, with Niemeier serving for the second set only for Swiatek to fight back and claim a 6-4 7-5 victory. Australian Open: Women's Singles Draw I Men's Singles Draw I Order of Play I Scores & Schedule Six players you must watch at this year's Australian Open 'I am one of the best players in the world' - Kyrgios eyes Australian Open glory In-form American Jessica Pegula swept into the second round with a 6-0 6-1 win over Jaqueline Cristian in less than an hour on Margaret Court Arena. The third seed simply overpowered the Romanian in under an hour on court. Trending Transfer Centre LIVE! … [Read more...] about Australian Open: Iga Swiatek makes unconvincing start to her campaign in Melbourne

Rafael Nadal made a brilliant start to his Australian Open 2023 campaign as he thrashed Britain's Jack Draper in his men's singles match on Monday. The 22-time Grand Slam champion defeated the 21-year-old Draper 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena. The defending champion will now be facing American Mackenzie McDonald in round two. Apart from the empathic victory, another moment that won many hearts across the world, was the priceless reaction given by Nadal, when he was asked about his feeling about being a father. During a post-match presentation, Nadal, when asked about how being a dad changed his life, said, "It's one of the most beautiful things in this life. I am enjoying this new moment. I am really grateful to have them (wife and baby) with me over here in Australia." Watch Rafael Nadal's priceless reaction here: "One of the most beautiful things in this life." @RafaelNadal on becoming a dad. #AusOpen #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/e7uED9u7Ul — #AusOpen … [Read more...] about Rafael Nadal’s Priceless Reaction On ‘How Being A Dad Changed Life’ Question. Watch | Tennis News