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Raducanu: Cincinnati run was a 'great step' ahead of US Open title defence

By Sports Desk August 19, 2022

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  • Jessica Pegula to face winner of rain-affected semi in Cancun final Jessica Pegula to face winner of rain-affected semi in Cancun final

    Jessica Pegula cruised past US Open winner Coco Gauff in straight sets to book a spot in the championship match of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico.

    The American doubles partners duked it out against each other on a wet and windy Saturday evening, with Pegula easily coming out on top 6-2 6-1.

    It is still not known who will face the 29-year-old in the final, as the semi-final between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and world number two Iga Swiatek was pushed back as more heavy rains rolled in four games into their match.

    The game was put on pause with Swiatek leading 2-1 and Sabalenka serving at 30-all.

    The duo could be seen both wrapping themselves in towels to brace against the weather as organisers waited almost two hours for the game to resume.

    Eventually, the game was suspended as bleak conditions prevailed.

    Belarusian Sabalenka and Poland’s Swiatek will resume play on Sunday, with the final rescheduled to Monday.

  • Jessica Pegula continues unbeaten run in WTA Finals with win over Maria Sakkari Jessica Pegula continues unbeaten run in WTA Finals with win over Maria Sakkari

    World number five Jessica Pegula defeated Greece’s Maria Sakkari in straight sets 6-3 6-2 in the WTA Finals, continuing her unbeaten run through the group stages.

    Pegula had already secured her spot in Saturday’s semi-finals by beating both Sabalenka and Rybakina in her earlier matches in Mexico.

    But the American is yet to drop a set so far this tournament and it took her just under 80 minutes to beat Sakkari, who failed to qualify for the semi-finals after losing all of her games.

    Meanwhile, fighting for a spot in the semi-finals, world number one Aryna Sabalenka and world number four Elena Rybakina had their match suspended due to wet weather.

    Sabalenka won the first set 6-2 in the Australian Open final rematch on a rain interrupted evening and had Rybakina on the ropes early in the second set.

    But Rybakina fought back to take the lead 5-3 before the match was called off for the night, with play to resume on Friday.

    Also on Friday, Iga Swiatek will take on Ons Jabeur while Coco Gauff plays Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova to decide who makes the semi-finals.

  • Jessica Pegula beats world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets Jessica Pegula beats world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets

    Jessica Pegula produced an impressive display in the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, as she beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.

    Pegula broke her losing streak against the Belarusian having lost their last five meetings and the American has now won her last five games against top 10 players.

    Sabalenka made 33 unforced errors, but it still took Pegula seven match points before clinching a 6-4 6-3 win and a place in the semi-finals.

    After the match, Pegula said her improvement comes from feeling “more comfortable” playing top players this year.

    Sabalenka will now play Elena Rybakina on Thursday night to determine the second qualifier from the group after Rybakina defeated Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-7 (4) 7-6 (2).

    Rybakina started with a fury with a dominant first set but Sakkari fought her way back, winning the second set in a tiebreak.

    Sakkari had two break point chances in the final set at 4-4, but Rybakina fought back and finished the tiebreak in a dominant fashion, skipping out to a 6-0 lead.

    A number of players, including Sabalenka, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and Iga Swiatek criticised the conditions of the courts in Cancun.

    For the third year in a row, the host of the prestigious tournament – which features the top eight players of the season – was decided less than two months prior to the event.

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