Pegula books conflict with Kudermetova in Tokyo remaining

RICHARD A. BROOKS/ AFP

Second seed Jessica Pegula produced a near-flawless show to energy previous the resurgent Maria Sakkari 6-2 6-3 on Saturday to succeed in the Pan Pacific Open remaining in Tokyo.

The 29-year-old American, gunning for her second title of the season following her triumph in Montreal, will tackle Russian Veronika Kudermetova on Sunday.

Pegula made a blazing begin to the competition with a few early breaks to peg again Sakkari, who has rediscovered her greatest kind this month after claiming the Guadalajara title.

World quantity six Sakkari discovered her groove late within the first set after going 5-1 down, however the 28-year-old couldn’t cease the fourth-ranked Pegula from closing it out.

The pair traded breaks early within the second set earlier than Pegula stepped up the strain once more, firing a scorching forehand winner en path to a 4-2 lead.

Pegula completed the job when she pressured Sakkari into making a mistake from the again of the courtroom.

“The faster courts here probably help me a little more than the slower surfaces I’ve played her in the past,” stated Pegula, who beat Sakkari for the fourth time of their ninth assembly.

Two left in Tokyo 🇯🇵

The #TorayPPO remaining is SET 💪 pic.twitter.com/bk5shwIwQ8

— wta (@WTA) September 30, 2023

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