Jessica Pegula is one win away from being the first woman in the Open Era to win both the Canadian Open and the
Cincinnati Open. She picked up her ninth straight win and advanced to a fifth career WTA 1000 final.
The No.6 seed overcome more than one set back in defeating
Paula Badosa 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. There was a sudden rain delay mid match as well as a surge from the resurgent Spaniard who recently won Washington and has been in delightful form as of late.
But she weathered both storms both literally and figuratively and moved through in one hour and 53 minutes. It was Pegula's grit again that showed through. She has won four three set ties during her current winning streak and if she extends that further tomorrow against Aryna Sabalenka, it would be the first since Evonne Goolagong in 1973.
It has been a good match up in the past for Pegula against Badosa. They faced each other twice and the American has won both times. She did it again this time. The first set started with an early break for Pegula with another setting up a 4-0 lead. It was only then that Badosa won a service game but Pegula was outplaying her opponent and sealed the opener 6-2. She was outplaying Badosa in the rallies and the great play continued.
She once again broke serve early and held to take a 2-0 lead. Pegula continued her excellence albeit Badosa cut the gap and the American had to encounter multiple delays including malfunctioning back boards and then the rain.
Badosa returned and sealed the second set immediately 6-3 to force the decider. Badosa had a double break chance in the decider but Pegula held on. At 4-3, Pegula created a break opportunity and took it for a 5-3 lead. But serving it out like Sabalenka earlier proved a problem. She had to save a break point but was able to do that and she claimed it to set up a tie with Sabalenka.