MELBOURNE (Reuters) – 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 12 months.
Under a blazing solar at Margaret Court Arena, Pegula’s stonewall defence left the hard-hitting Sakkari a sizzling mess and the American solely grew in confidence because the match went on.
After Sakkari crumbled to lose the primary set tiebreak 7-0, Pegula started swinging onerous on the Greek’s serve and was rewarded with an early break within the second.
Sakkari battled to save a match level as Pegula served out however despatched a defensive backhand vast to concede the match.
Pegula will play the winner of high seed Ash Barty and Amanda Anisimova for a spot within the semi-finals.
“That undoubtedly was the very best match I’ve performed this 12 months, this match for positive,” stated the twenty first seed.
“I used to be glad I used to be in a position to carry it at present … I believed I returned rather well, I actually from the beginning wished to put a whole lot of strain on her serve.
“I knew I had to simply take my probabilities but in addition be affected person.”
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
