MATCH REPORT | 2024 Australian Open: Jessica PEGULA's Grand Slam woes continue with shock second round defeat to Clara BUREL
WTAThursday, 18 January 2024 at 07:39
Amid Iga Swiatek nearly going out of the tournament just over an hour prior, Jessica Pegula on the other hand has exited with the World Number Five being the biggest name casualty so far in the women's draw after being defeated by World No.51, Clara Burel at the Australian Open.
It was a 6-4, 6-2 win in just over an hour from Burel who picks up the biggest win of her career both in terms of ranking and also future chance in the tournament as she will now take on Oceane Dodin for a spot in the second week and the fourth round.
While for Pegula, it is yet another disappointment. She didn't come into the Australian Open in the best form after not looking at her best in the United Cup losing to Katie Boulter early on and that bad luck continued with the American being defeated by illness in Adelaide in the latter stages albeit not being on top form either.
Burel wasn't expected to be a hugely tough test for the American, but it was a flat footed display for Pegula as she wasn't showing the consistency she usually shows on court at all and was made to pay. After a close opener albeit with two breaks either side of the start, Burel took her advantage after initially Pegula had chances to make it 5-5 on multiple occasions, but the Frenchwoman pinched the set 6-4.
In the second despite losing serve early on and going 2-0 down. Burel won six games on the spin to seal the win including three breaks of serve in a row and barring one, Pegula had chances to seal the game so it could've been a different story but these fine margins saw Pegula head out of the tournament and Burel pick up a career best win.
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