Jessica Pegula barely won her previous match at the 2024 Charleston Open, but she did, which gives her a chance to book a final if she beats Daria Kasatkina.
The quarter-final match was brutal for the American, who had to work really hard to still find herself in the draw. She took on experienced Victoria Azarenka and went all the way with her to a third-set tie-break, which she ultimately won 9-7.
It didn't have to be so complicated because she was looking on her way to winning the match in two sets, but tennis is tennis, and she had to save four match points to advance.
This upcoming matchup won't be that much easier because she's facing Kasatkina, a player who is always good for fighting and one that won't back down easily. Neither has had a spectacular year so far, but that bodes well for an interesting match.
Head-to-head:
Pegula and Kasatkina have played a couple of times so far, and the H2H score is 2-0 for the American. Their most recent matchup would have been in Adelaide this year, but the American withdrew before the match.
The one before was in Tokyo late last year, and Pegula outplayed Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0 in that title run. I don't think this will be that close, even though Pegula won their only clay match so far. The Russian isn't playing very well right now, but neither is Pegula.
| Jessica Pegula | Daria Kasatkina | |
| 2 | H2H | 0 |
| 5 | Rank | 11 |
| 30 | Age | 26 |
| 12-5 | 2024 W/L | 15-8 |
| 407-237 | Career W/L | 359-202 |
Prediction:
Even so, I do think the American is closer to victory because that win over Azarenka will be a huge confidence booster for her. She's also playing on native soil, which is important as the crowd will be backing her all the way.
I think she's good enough, and the matchup suits her.
Prediction: Jessica Pegula to win in two sets.
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