Pegula Defeats Raducanu to Face Teen Sensation Eala in Semifinals
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Jessica Pegula, the No. 4 seed from America, advances to the Miami Open semifinals after defeating Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2. Pegula will face 19-year-old Alexandra Eala, who has caused several upsets in the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Pegula reached her third semifinal in Miami.
- Raducanu put up a tough fight but could not clinch the victory.
- Pegula aims for her sixth WTA 1000 final.
- She will face Alexandra Eala, a promising 19-year-old.
- Raducanu saved four match points in a strong second set comeback.
Miami, March 27 (NationPress) America’s No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula secured her spot in the semifinal at the Miami Open with a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 triumph over Briton Emma Raducanu on Thursday (IST) at Hard Rock Stadium.
The American reached her third semifinal in Miami in four years by defeating the 2021 US Open champion for the second time in three encounters.
Pegula was unable to clinch the match in straight sets after a commendable comeback from Raducanu in the second set, where she saved four set points and rallied back from a 5-2 deficit to push the match into a tiebreak. Despite receiving medical attention during the humid Miami evening, Raducanu continued to fight. However, an early break of serve in the third set provided Pegula with a lead she maintained until the end.
Raducanu’s only opportunity to break Pegula’s serve in the final set came in the third game but was thwarted by Pegula, who then won the subsequent eight points to seal the victory, as reported by the WTA.
Following her 19th win of the season, Pegula will aim for her sixth career WTA 1000 final, but her first in Miami, against Cinderella story Alexandra Eala, the 19-year-old wild card from the Philippines, who stunned World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the other quarterfinal match on Wednesday.
Pegula has not won a set in either of her previous Miami semifinals. In 2022, she lost in straight sets to Swiatek as the No. 16 seed, and the following year, she faced a close defeat in two sets to then-No. 10 seed Elena Rybakina while seeded No. 3, according to WTA statistics.
Although Pegula is favored on paper against World No. 140 Eala, she will not underestimate the teenage Filipina, who has already upset three grand slam champions in the tournament to advance to her first career tour-level semifinal.
