After the disappointment of her loss to Madison Keys at the US Open, it is firmly back to business for one of the WTA's most consistent players as Jessica Pegula reaches the semi-finals at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Thrashing Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0, she won 12 straight games in an utterly dominant success. In a match that only lasted an hour, she started by being broken on serve. But took that back straight away.
Albeit despite the scoreline, it wasn't without chances for Kasatkina who had chances to break when Pegula won the set and priorly when the American took her serve away at 3-1.
But after three break points, Pegula only needed one set point to take the first set. In a similar story, Kasatkina went 40-15 up on her serve but in a game of one fine margin, Pegula took the break and did the same at 3-0.
This seemed to crush the spirit even further of Kasatkina who was swept aside on Pegula's serve and only won three more points in the requisite games as a clinical display from Pegula saw her seal the deal.
With Iga Swiatek now out, she will lead the line-up for the semi-final against either Guadalajara champion Maria Sakkari or a resurgent Caroline Garcia who play shortly.
Veronika Kudermetova v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is the all Russian affair in the opposite side of the draw for a spot in the final.
Pegula d. Daria Kasatkina 6-1 6-0 in Tokyo In an era that’s been defined by big hitters, you have to admire what Jess has accomplished these last few years. She can really hit the ball, but she’s a thinker on court first & foremost. ✅Won 13 of last 16 hardcourt matches 🇺🇸
