WTA Finals 2023: Pegula powers into semi-finals with win over Sakkari

Jessica Pegula is into the WTA Finals semi-final after three straight wins. AP

American Jessica Pegula powered into the semi-finals of the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun on Thursday, beating Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2 to finish an unbeaten run by means of the group stage.

Pegula, the oldest participant within the discipline at 29, had already clinched her spot in Saturday’s semi-finals and Sakkari was already out of rivalry earlier than the match on the Mexican out of doors hardcourts.

Pegula, who went winless final yr in her WTA Finals debut, seized management early, main 4-1 within the opening set on the way in which to a dominant victory in tough, windy situations.

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She took full benefit of 35 unforced errors from Greece’s Sakkari, together with eight double faults, Pegula reaching the final 4 with out dropping a set.

Pegula was happy to maintain issues rolling within the unfavorable situations, saying she tried to play to the center of the courtroom and maintain down errors.

“It’s so powerful to play in these situations,” she advised Tennis Channel. “You’re making an attempt to do your greatest and as quickly as you get some momentum, you continue to really feel like you would lose it.

“Should you simply cease transferring your toes for one second, you get one unfortunate shot. So that you’re very on edge.

“It was loopy on the market immediately,” she mentioned.

Pegula’s brisk run by means of her group matches included an upset of Aryna Sabalenka, the world primary who confronted a do-or-die conflict with fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina for the second semi-final berth from the group.

The 2 met in January within the Australian Open last, the place Sabalenka triumphed in three units for her first main title.

She had pushed her profession report of Rybakina to 4-0 earlier than the 24-year-old from Kazakhstan gained two straight — within the Indian Wells last in March and within the quarter-finals at Beijing.

Sabalenka, who’s considered one of a number of gamers who’ve complained concerning the situation of the courtroom at this week’s match, will not be solely gunning for the distinguished title.

She’s additionally aiming to take the year-end primary rating, which might nonetheless be claimed by Poland’s reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek.