Jessica Pegula celebrates at the Australian Open. Photo: IZHAR KHAN / AFP
Jessica Pegula moved into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in her career on Wednesday, with a 6-3 7-6(1) win over fellow American and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova at Melbourne Park.
The sixth seed, who exited the competition at the quarter-finals stage in 2021, 2022 and 2023, will take on Elena Rybakina for a place in Saturday's (US Time) final after the Kazakh defeated Iga Swiatek earlier in the day.
"It's awesome," Pegula said of her progress to the last four.
"I've been able to go deeper in the US Open in the last couple of years, but here was the first slam that I broke through at.
"I was the three - and then four-time quarter-finalist. I was, 'It's got to be coming, I've got to get to the semi'.
"I feel like I play some good tennis here, I like the conditions and even matches I've lost here I've played well in so I've been waiting for the time when I could break through."
Pegula raced into a 4-1 lead as a clearly frustrated Anisimova struggled in the early exchanges, surrendering two breaks of serve inside the opening five games to allow her compatriot to go on and claim the first set in 30 minutes.
Anisimova had shown signs of regaining her composure late in the opening set and built on those improvements to put Pegula under pressure, breaking her serve to go 5-3 up in the set only to double-fault in the next game to squander that advantage.
The pair traded breaks to take the second set to a tiebreak, where Pegula kept her cool to prevail over an increasingly agitated Anisimova.
Rybakina downs Swiatek
Fifth seed Elena Rybakina booked her place in the Australian Open semi-finals with a dominant second set display to hand six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek a 7-5 6-1 defeat.
Looking to lift the trophy for the first time, the 28-year-old will take on Pegula in the semi final.
Swiatek had made a quick start, breaking Rybakina in the opening game as she punished the Kazakh's second serve but the number two seed failed to consolidate, immediately surrendering her service advantage.
Both players held serve until the final game, when Swiatek fired into the net to give Rybakina the opening set after almost an hour's play.
Rybakina then made the most of Swiatek's frustrations with her service, taking the second game of the second set by crashing a forehand into the corner with the Pole rooted to the spot.
Swiatek was left questioning a marginal line call as Rybakina broke her serve again before comfortably holding to advance.
- Reuters
