In the quarterfinals of the San Diego Open, top-seeded Jessica Pegula faced off against Anna Blinkova in a hard-fought battle that ended with Pegula claiming victory with a score of 6-1, 2-6, 6-2. Despite her win, Pegula acknowledged Blinkova’s competitive spirit, stating that Blinkova always makes her opponents work hard for their points. Pegula admitted to struggling with Blinkova’s change in game plan, which involved hitting a lot of high balls that threw Pegula off her rhythm in the second set. Although Pegula managed to find her range and secure the win, she made a significant number of unforced errors, especially in the second set. Despite finishing with 24 winners, Pegula’s game was not without flaws, making the match a challenging one for her.
On the other side of the bracket, Marta Kostyuk faced off against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a thrilling match that saw Kostyuk rally back from a set down to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. Kostyuk’s resilience and determination were on full display as she managed to turn the tide of the match and emerge victorious. Despite dropping the opening set, Kostyuk remained focused and composed, ultimately outlasting Pavlyuchenkova to book her spot in the semifinals against Pegula.
In another exciting matchup, third-seeded Emma Navarro faced off against Daria Saville, the last remaining qualifier in the tournament. Navarro, the 2021 NCAA singles champion, showcased her skills on the court by coming back from a 1-4 deficit in the opening set to claim a 6-4, 6-2 victory. Navarro’s ability to capitalize on her break-point opportunities and adjust her game plan midway through the match proved to be the deciding factors in her win. With this victory, Navarro secured her spot in the semifinals for the second consecutive year, setting up a clash with Katie Boulter in the next round.
In a surprising turn of events, Katie Boulter pulled off an upset by defeating 2022 runner-up Donna Vekic in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Boulter, currently Britain’s top-ranked player, showcased her resilience and determination on the court, overcoming a first-set deficit to secure the win. Despite the challenging conditions and Vekic’s formidable reputation, Boulter managed to stay strong and find a way to emerge victorious. With this win, Boulter advanced to the semifinals, where she will face off against Navarro in what promises to be an exciting match.
The semifinals of the San Diego Open provided fans with thrilling matches, unexpected upsets, and impressive displays of skill and determination from the players. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see which players will rise to the occasion and secure a spot in the final. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis from the San Diego Open as the action unfolds.
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