By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 10, 2024
Jessica Pegula set a quarterfinal clash with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the Adelaide International.
Photo Source: Getty
Jessica Pegula was given a stern test from compatriot Bernarda Pera on Wednesday in Adelaide, but the No.2 held her ground and rallied from a set down to advance, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Some players might prefer an easier road so early in the season, given that the Australian Open begins in less than five days, but Pegula says she enjoys being tested ahead of the Grand Slams, and she is happy to have come through a tough clash with a tricky southpaw on Wednesday in Adelaide.
“I'm happy that I've gotten tough matches because it's always hard when you haven't been in those situations and then you throw yourself into a Slam in those situations, it's really tough,” she said. “You always feel great and it's easy to win when you're winning on a easy score line.
“I don't mind the tough matches now. I think that's the whole point of playing these events is to be tested however it is. Obviously I don't want to do that when I'm out there, but when you're in the situation and you can figure it out and use that going into a Slam, I think that's really helpful.”
The World No.5 needed two hours and 12 minutes to finish off 69th-ranked Pera, improving to 2-0 against her fellow American.
Pegula, who went 1-1 at United Cup last week, is 2-1 on the season.
The Buffalo, NY native will look to continue polishing her form ahead of next week’s Australian Open. She has a knack for being ready for the year’s first Grand Slam, exemplified by three consecutive trips to the quarterfinals in Melbourne.
Pegula has gone 12-3 at the Australian Open since the start of 2021, and 36-12 at the Grand Slams overall since then.
Elsewhere in Adelaide, Marta Kostyuk defeated Taylor Townsend, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, while sixth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko topped Caroline Garcia, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.