Australian Open LIVE Results: Jessica Pegula rekindled her love affair with Melbourne Park on Sunday by dumping Greek fifth seed Maria Sakkari out of the Australian Open 7-6(0) 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals for a second straight year.
“That was definitely my best match of the year,” said Pegula, who has been relaxing in Melbourne by playing Blackjack at a local casino. “I thought I returned really well, I wanted to put pressure on her serve and I felt I did that. I was trying to be patient and play as
smart as I could.
Australian Open LIVE Results: Jessica Pegula rekindles Melbourne Park love affair to reach quarters
The 27-year-old Pegula, whose billionaire father Terry owns the Buffalo Bills NFL club, also made the last eight in 2021, when she lost to fellow American Jennifer Brady.
Right-hander Sakkari, who made the semis at both the US Open and French Open last year, had a 2-0 win-loss record over Pegula and had not dropped a set at Melbourne Park.
Australian Open LIVE Results: Jessica Pegula rekindles Melbourne Park love affair to reach quarters
But she found the going tough in searing heat. They traded blows throughout the first set until the tiebreak when Pegula found another gear with her flat and fast
groundstrokes helping her race through it without dropping a point. She earned a break in the second set to move 4-1 and held on to take the win when Sakkari slapped a backhand wide
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