In a thrilling semifinal match at the Wuhan Open, Jessica Pegula ended Aryna Sabalenka’s impressive 20-match unbeaten streak with a hard-fought victory. Pegula triumphed with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), securing her place in the finals against fellow American and third seed, Coco Gauff. This match, which lasted 2 hours and 19 minutes, showcased Pegula’s determination and skill, culminating in a decisive tiebreak that highlighted her resilience.
Pegula’s Remarkable Comeback
Pegula’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. After falling behind 5-2 in the final set, she displayed incredible grit by winning four consecutive games to take a 6-5 lead. Despite holding two match points, Sabalenka managed to extend the match to a tiebreak. However, Pegula maintained her composure and dominated the tiebreak, ultimately sealing her comeback victory. The final game was particularly intense, featuring five deuces and resulting in all four of Pegula’s double faults throughout the match.
Several key statistics emphasize the significance of Pegula’s upset over the world No. 1. She successfully broke Sabalenka’s serve seven times, which included three critical breaks in the final set. This performance ranks as the second-most breaks against Sabalenka this season, surpassed only by Gauff’s nine breaks in their Roland Garros final clash. Furthermore, Pegula ended a remarkable streak for Sabalenka, who had won 19 consecutive tiebreaks prior to this match. Notably, this victory marked Pegula’s first win over a Top 10 opponent after losing the opening set, a situation in which she had previously been 0-29.
With this victory, Pegula advances to an all-American final, where she will compete for her fourth WTA 1000 title and her first of the season. The upcoming matchup with Gauff will be the fourth all-American final of the tour this year, a feat not seen since 2003, highlighting a resurgence of American talent in women’s tennis.