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Pegula stuns Svitolina to make Australian Open quarter-finals
MELBOURNE, Feb 15, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – American Jessica Pegula beat a top-10
player for the first time in her career Monday, shocking fifth seed Elina
Svitolina at the Australian Open to make her first ever Grand Slam quarter-
final.
The unseeded 26-year-old has been in scintillating form at Melbourne Park
and overwhelmed the Ukrainian 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a last-eight clash with
either fellow American Jennifer Brady or Croat Donna Vekic.
“I really admire how she is on the court, she just puts her head down and
goes about her business and really always fights, so that’s definitely
something I tried to do today,” Pegula said of Svitolina.
“I think with the nerves and the end of the first set being tough I got a
little tired. But I feel good now.”
Ranked just 61 and playing only her second Australian Open, Pegula took
out former world number one and 12th seed Victoria Azarenka in the opening
round then dropped just four games in her next two matches.
Svitolina had won in straight-sets when the pair met at Abu Dhabi last
month but it was Pegula who took the initiative Monday, creating three break
points that were saved before a double fault on the fourth handed her a 4-3
lead.
She held serve to consolidate her advantage and take the set after some
punishing baselines battles.
They traded breaks early in the second set before Svitolina held then
broke again for 3-1 as Pegula temporarily lost focus.
But Pegula, who missed most of 2017 with a hip injury that forced her to
consider retirement, bounced back in the decider and secured a crucial break
in the fourth game with a backhand volley winner.
A double fault allowed Svitolina back, but Pegula broke again for 5-3 and
served out for her biggest win.
It was a disappointing end to a major again for Svitolina, who has fallen
to players ranked outside the top 25 in the past three Grand Slams.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0841 hrs