Jessica
Pegula suffered another defeat from leading positions, this time against Marta
Kostyuk in the semifinals of the San Diego Open. The previous one had been
against Katie Boulter in the 2024 United Cup, and interestingly, the British
player will now challenge Kostyuk for the title of the WTA 500 San Diego.
World No. 5
has not enjoyed a good season so far. She began the year at the United Cup,
where she defended the title with the USA, but they did not advance from the
group stage. In individual play, her first tournament was in Adelaide, but she
withdrew before playing in the semifinals. She then traveled to the Australian
Open and exited in the second round, announcing that she would be out for a few
weeks due to injury.
In her
return to the Tour six weeks later, she arrived as the top seed at the San
Diego Open, securing consecutive victories against Jule Niemeier (6-0, 6-4) and
Anna Blinkova (6-1, 2-6, 6-2). However, in the semifinals, she collided with
Marta Kostyuk in an impressive performance by the Ukrainian.
Pegula was
up 5-1 in the first set but only won 2 of the next 13 games, ultimately being
eliminated with a scoreline of 7-6(4), 6-1. Kostyuk's comeback was reminiscent
of Pegula's defeat at the start of the season in the United Cup against
Boulter. In that match, Pegula led 7-5, 3-0 (and with the serve), but Boulter
eventually turned the match around (5-7, 6-4, 6-4), securing a crucial victory
for the elimination of the USA.
Unexpected Final in San Diego:
Both
Boulter and Kostyuk are now poised for their first WTA 500 final, with each
having only played one final before, albeit in the WTA 250 category: Kostyuk
claimed the title at the 2023 ATX Open, and Boulter secured her first trophy at
the 2023 Nottingham Open.
While few
would have predicted these finalists, both had a great week, defeating
top-ranked opponents. Boulter has secured her best ranking yet as world No. 35,
while Kostyuk currently stands at No. 31 in the live rankings. The points
difference between them is just 40 points, and whoever emerges as the champion
will advance to world No. 27.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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