The former world number 1 Victoria Azarenka and the tournament’s third seed Jessica Pegula met for a first semi-final match at the Guadalajara Open in Mexico. Azarenka had beaten the event’s fifth seed in the American Coco Gauff in a high intensity match, winning 7-6(2) 4-6 6-3 and she entered the match to hit the ground running against one of the most consistent players of the tour during the 2022 season, Pegula.
Pegula only recorded her first game of the opening set after four games played – with her second winner in the match coming in that game. The score board then read 1-3. Pegula often suffers slow starts before settling in her matches, and it was clear to her early on in the match that the semi-final would not be an easy match. She would perform with no pressure though since she has already qualified for the season elite event (the WTA Finals, which begins October 31st in Fort Worth, Texas).
Maria Sakkari(4), who is also still alive in this tournament (who will meet Marie Bouzková in the second semi-final; became the first Greek woman to qualify for the year-end championships during the 2021 season and it will be her second season competing there as she has managed to secure the final 8th spot. The 2021 season was a special one for her because in it she also managed to reach a semi-final of a grand slam event at Roland Garros, again becoming the first Greek woman to do so).
Pegula retrieved the single break of serve in the opening set, and the two players played a tie-break to decide the opener. Pegula had impressively not faced a break point since being broken in her opening game of the match. She won the first set breaker 7-6(3). In the second set Azarenka seemed to be struggling with her right forearm, particularly her elbow, and it did not help matters that she was up against an aggressive-hitting Pegula when she trailed 1-3.
Pegula consolidated the break of serve which came in the fourth game and lead 4-1. Although the 6th game had glimpses of some of Azarenka’s convincing winners, she was still broken and her opponent served for the match at 5-1. Pegula had 3 match points soon after, and she served a double fault to squander her first one, but she finally won the match 7-6 6-1.
