Pegula outlasts Svitolina at the US Open and will face fellow American Keys in the fourth round

Jessica Pegula emerged victorious in a gripping contest against Elina Svitolina at the US Open, securing her spot in the fourth round where she is set to face fellow American Madison Keys. Pegula’s journey through the tournament has been marked by her ability to outlast opponents, and her upcoming match against Keys promises to be a captivating clash between two skilled athletes.

Reflecting on their repeated appearances together in tournament draws this summer, Pegula humorously remarked, “We were like, ‘I think the world just wants us to play.’” Now, at the U.S. Open, their anticipation has materialized into reality. Pegula managed to secure a hard-fought victory over Svitolina, winning with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. This triumph earned her the opportunity to compete against the 17th-seeded Madison Keys in the next round.

As the third seed, Pegula is driven by the ambition to surpass her previous Grand Slam quarterfinal finishes. However, her journey is not without challenges. In the upcoming match against Madison Keys, who reached the finals in Flushing Meadows in 2017, Pegula faces a formidable adversary who has also demonstrated resilience by clinching victory in three-set battles.

Keys exhibited her unwavering determination by rallying back to defeat the 14th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova with a final score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. Her victory showcased her ability to adapt and thrive under pressure, setting the stage for a highly anticipated encounter with Pegula.

Interestingly, Pegula and Keys could have faced off earlier in the season in both Montreal and Cincinnati, but circumstances prevented their matches from materializing. A hip injury forced Keys to withdraw in Canada, where Pegula subsequently claimed the title. The dynamics of their competition are further intriguing due to their limited head-to-head history, with Pegula holding the upper hand in their sole previous encounter in San Diego.

Pegula acknowledged Keys’ formidable power game, noting her ability to deliver aces and unleash powerful forehands and backhands. To counteract this, Pegula emphasized the strategic aspect of her gameplay, expressing her curiosity about how she can employ tactics to counter Keys’ strengths.

The women’s draw witnessed other notable triumphs on the same day. Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, exhibited dominance by defeating Clara Burel with an impressive scoreline of 6-1, 6-1. Additionally, Daria Kasatkina, seeded 13th, showcased her skills in overcoming Greet Minnen with a final score of 6-3, 6-4, setting the stage for her clash against the Australian Open champion.

The U.S. Open also saw Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, seeded ninth, deliver a commanding performance against Ekaterina Alexandrova, winning 6-2, 6-1. Vondrousova’s next challenge will be against unseeded American Peyton Stearns.

In a match that demanded stamina and resilience, Ons Jabeur, the fifth seed, secured her place in the fourth round by outlasting Marie Bouzkova with a scoreline of 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Jabeur’s tenacity earned her a match against No. 23 seed Zheng Qinwen of China, who advanced after a hard-fought encounter against Lucia Bronzetti, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

Pegula’s path to the fourth round was marked by a challenging encounter against Svitolina, the 26th seed hailing from Ukraine, who reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2019. With the third set tied at 2-2, Pegula managed to break Svitolina’s serve, kickstarting a string of four consecutive games that ultimately secured her victory.

This victory marks Pegula’s second appearance in the fourth round of the U.S. Open. Her standout performance came in 2022, when she reached the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Iga Swiatek. As she continues her journey in this year’s tournament, Pegula remains steadfast in her quest to achieve her best Grand Slam performance yet.

Elina Svitolina acknowledged Pegula’s impressive results and expressed her belief that Pegula is prepared to take a significant step forward in her career. The anticipation for the upcoming matches is palpable, as the competition intensifies and these talented athletes vie for supremacy on the grand stage of the U.S. Open.

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