At the end of a meeting completed at one o’clock in the morning and after saving two match points, Jessica Pegula qualified for the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Miami at the expense of Anastasia Potapova.
Jessica Pegula will be there for the semi-finals in Miami. In front of a sparse audience in the heart of Hard Rock Stadium and at a late hour of the night after three reports linked to the rain falling on Florida, the American had the last word in a hung duel against Anastasia Potapova. The world number 3 started with a bang, breaking from the start to lead two games to nothing before a black round that saw her lose five games in a row. With this clear ascendancy, the Russian had the opportunity to serve to win the first set. That’s when Jessica Pegula had a burst of pride to clear her late break… which didn’t last very long. Indeed, the American then once again gave up her serve and the set on the third occasion. An advantage that Anastasia Potapova was able to confirm at the start of the second set, taking the serve of Jessica Pegula hard. However, as a mirror of the start of the meeting, it is the Russian who is as if out of the meeting. The world number 3 took the opportunity to erase her late break and take in stride that of her opponent.
An unreal comeback by @JLPegulasaving two match points to go 🔙 to the #MiamiOpen semifinals‼️pic.twitter.com/rjuHiAVdA6
— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 29, 2023
Potapova gave in, Pegula took advantage
Leading then four games to two, the American did not give up anything to the Russian and even equalized at one set everywhere by taking her commitment for the third time. The last set started as an exact replica of the first, with Jessica Pegula taking Anastasia Potapova’s serve straight away. The latter then responded by immediately erasing her late break and then once again took the lead to lead four games to two. It was when serving for the match that the 26th player in the world began to show signs of nervousness. After missing two match points, the Russian let her opponent come back level and then once again took the lead, giving herself a second opportunity to conclude on her face-off. Again, Anastasia Potapova did not knew how to go to the end of the process, leaving Jessica Pegula to return to height and snatch a decisive game. No doubt affected by such a scenario, the Russian did not see the light of day in this tiebreak, multiplying the faults and losing two points on her face-off, she saw the match elude her. at her first match point, Jessica Pegula put an end to the suspense (4-6, 6-3, 7-6 in 2h38′). A success that allows him to join Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.
