Quick Read
- Jessica Pegula defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) to reach her first Australian Open semifinal.
- This marks Pegula’s 14th win in her last 15 matches against American opponents.
- She will face Elena Rybakina in the semifinal, who defeated Iga Swiatek.
- Pegula, 31, is the first woman in the Open Era to reach her first three major semifinals after turning 30.
- Pegula joined Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek in criticizing excessive camera surveillance and lack of player privacy at the tournament.
MELBOURNE (Azat TV) – Jessica Pegula, the sixth seed, has broken through to reach her first Australian Open semifinal, defeating fellow American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) on Wednesday at Melbourne Park. The significant victory, coming after three previous quarterfinal exits in the tournament, not only propels the 31-year-old into a clash with Elena Rybakina but also sees her join a chorus of top players advocating for increased privacy amidst pervasive camera surveillance at major tournaments.
Pegula’s path to the semifinals has been marked by a strong performance, particularly against her compatriots. Her win over Anisimova was her 14th in her last 15 matches against American opponents and her eighth consecutive victory over an American at a Grand Slam. This impressive run includes defeating McCartney Kessler in the second round and defending champion Madison Keys in the fourth round, making her the first American woman since Gigi Fernández in 1993 to defeat three compatriots in a single Australian Open.
Pegula Dominates Anisimova, Secures Historic Semifinal Spot
The quarterfinal match against Anisimova, the fourth seed, showcased Pegula’s tactical prowess. She stormed through the first set, closing it out with an ace, and maintained a clean game throughout. While Anisimova struggled with 44 unforced errors and seven double faults in the second set, Pegula remained steady, striking more aces (six to two) and committing fewer double faults (two to seven). Pegula also capitalized on Anisimova’s second serve, winning an impressive 64% of those points.
The second set proved tighter, with both players exchanging breaks. Pegula, however, fought back from a 5-3 deficit and ultimately dominated the tiebreak, reeling off seven straight points to clinch the match. ‘I’ve been waiting for the time when I can kind of break through,’ Pegula stated after her win, reflecting on her long-sought semifinal appearance. ‘I feel like I really play some good tennis here and I like the conditions.’ The victory also marks a notable milestone for Pegula, as she becomes the first woman in the Open Era (since 1968) to reach her first three major semifinals after turning 30, according to USA Today.
Anticipating the Rybakina Challenge
Pegula will now face fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina in the semifinals on Thursday. Rybakina secured her spot by defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 in her quarterfinal match, preventing Swiatek from completing a career Grand Slam. The upcoming semifinal promises to be a tightly contested affair, as Pegula and Rybakina have split their six previous career matches, holding a 3-3 head-to-head record. Their most recent encounter saw Rybakina rally from a set down to win in the semifinals of the WTA Finals a few months ago.
Pegula acknowledged the challenge ahead, describing Rybakina as a formidable opponent. ‘She has a massive serve, big groundies, cool as a cucumber, you get nothing out of her,’ Pegula commented, anticipating a tough battle for a spot in her second career major final, having previously lost the 2024 US Open title match.
Top Players Call for Greater Privacy at Tournaments
Beyond her on-court achievements, Pegula has also lent her voice to a growing concern among top players regarding the lack of privacy at major tournaments, particularly at the Australian Open. This debate gained significant traction after Coco Gauff’s racket-smashing incident in a private area went viral following her quarterfinal loss on Tuesday. Gauff questioned the ‘seemingly limitless access certain cameras have’ and called for ‘conversations’ about player privacy.
Iga Swiatek, despite her quarterfinal loss to Rybakina, echoed Gauff’s sentiments, expressing discomfort with the constant surveillance. ‘Are we tennis players or are we, like, animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?’ Swiatek remarked, emphasizing the need for personal space. Pegula firmly supported her peers, stating, ‘Coco wasn’t wrong when she said the only place is the locker room. We’re on the court on TV, you come inside, you’re on TV. Literally the only time you’re not being recorded is when you’re going to shower and going to the bathroom. I think that’s something we need to cut back on for sure.’ Pegula added that the situation seemed ‘worse here than other years’ and hoped Gauff’s viral moment would spark further discussion about the ‘very intrusive’ nature of the surveillance, as reported by ESPN.
Jessica Pegula’s breakthrough to the Australian Open semifinals signifies a career high, demonstrating her sustained excellence and strategic improvement at an age when many players are considering retirement, while her outspoken stance on player privacy highlights a burgeoning issue that could reshape the athlete experience in professional tennis.