Jessica Pegula advanced to the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time, defeating fellow American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (1) on January 25, 2024, at Melbourne Park. This victory not only marked a significant breakthrough for Pegula, who had faced three previous quarterfinal losses in this tournament, but also continued her strong performance against American players, bringing her record to 14 wins in her last 15 matches against compatriots.
In the other quarterfinal at Rod Laver Arena, Elena Rybakina eliminated the tournament’s No. 2 seed, Iga Swiatek, with a decisive score of 7-5, 6-1. Pegula, seeded No. 6, is set to face No. 5 seed Rybakina in one semifinal on January 26. The other semifinal will feature top seed Aryna Sabalenka against No. 12 Elina Svitolina.
Pegula’s path to the semifinals included a notable victory over Madison Keys, the defending champion, in the previous round. As she aims for her first Grand Slam title, Rybakina is also chasing her second, having won Wimbledon in 2022.
In her match against Anisimova, Pegula showcased dominant play, especially in the first set, which she won with an impressive ace. The second set proved more challenging, as both players exchanged breaks. “I’ve been waiting for the time when I can kind of break through,” Pegula stated regarding her semifinal achievement. “I feel like I really play some good tennis here and I like the conditions.”
Pegula has not lost to Anisimova in their last four meetings, but the match was tense, particularly in the second set where Anisimova led 5-3. Pegula managed to rally back, emphasizing her determination not to extend the match into a third set. “I felt like I could win the rallies and I could put pressure on her serves,” Pegula explained. “I just told myself to gear right back up. You’ve got to win the tiebreak unless you want to go to a third set and I really didn’t want to.”
As Pegula prepares for her semifinal against Rybakina, their head-to-head record stands at 3-3, adding another layer of intrigue to this highly anticipated matchup. The stage is set for an exciting clash as both players vie for a spot in the final of the Australian Open.
