By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, October 13, 2023
Top-seeded Jessica Pegula and unseeded compatriot Emina Bektas both scored three-set wins to reach the Korea Open semifinals.
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
American women are showing Seoul power in Korea.
Top-seeded Jessica Pegula and unseeded compatriot Emina Bektas both scored three-set wins to reach the Korea Open final four today.
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In an all-American quarterfinal, Pegula broke serve seven times rallying past Claire Liu 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Montreal champion Pegula reeled off eight straight games to seal a two hour, 27-minute triumph.
It is the eighth semifinal of the season for Pegula, who has won nine of her last 11 matches.
The third-ranked Pegula will play either former US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer or Polina Kudermetova for a spot in Sunday's final.
Earlier, world No. 116 Bektas rallied past Aussie Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to her first Tour-level semifinal.
Bektas avenged a straight-sets loss to Birrell in the 2022 US Open qualifying.
In today's rematch, Bektas broke to open the final set and consolidated at 15 for 2-0. Bektas won eight of the final 10 points to secure her semifinal spot.
Bektas will face China's Yue Yuan for a place in the final in a match of maiden Tour-level semifinalists.
Yuan fought off fourth-seeded Marie Bouzkova 7-5, 7-6(7).
"Very tough match," Yuan said. "During the tiebreak I think everything change so I think I’m very lucky today.
"It’s my first semifinal on WTA. I’m very happy I can be here. This year I played a lot of matches very bad, but fortunately almost end of the year I can play better."