Pegula launches season in style, Navarro also wins at Melbourne tune-up
Jessica Pegula dropped just five games to romp past Maria Sakkari at the Adelaide International on Wednesday in a delayed start to her season days before the Australian Open.
PEGULA SORT SAKKARI 👏
— Avantage Tennis 🎾 (@AvantageTennis_) January 8, 2025
Après 3 revers de suite, Jessica Pegula (n°7) retrouve le succès, pour son 1er match de l’année, contre Maria Sakkari (n°32). 🇺🇸
L’Américaine affrontera Krueger ou Badosa pour retrouver le dernier carré à #AdelaideTennis. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/DcYOh4QLav
The top seed and US Open finalist, who had a bye in the first round, overwhelmed the Greek former world No 3 6-4, 6-1.
The world No 7 will play either Spain's Paula Badosa or fellow American Ashlyn Krueger in the quarterfinals.
Pegula, who last played at the WTA Finals in November, improved her record against Sakkari to 6-5 as the Greek player works her way back from a shoulder injury.
Pegula Dominates Sakkari, Advances Strongly
— atrtennis (@atrtennis) January 8, 2025
In a decisive showdown at the WTA Adelaide 1/8-finals, Jessica Pegula showcased her formidable skill set to defeat Maria Sakkari in straight sets, ...https://t.co/lGd4qTlNWC pic.twitter.com/GI8tBtk36y
"It's always tough getting the first win of the year, you don't know what to expect," said Pegula.
"But it's good heading into Melbourne next week. My focus is on doing well here first.
"It's fun to problem-solve on court and have a good attitude to start the year."
Second-seeded fellow American Emma Navarro, ranked eight in the world, came through a tougher assignment needing two hours to battle past Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
She will face either Switzerland's Belinda Bencic or another Russian, Liudmila Samsonova, for a place in the semifinals.
In the men's draw Canadian fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime staged a fightback to defeat France's Arthur Cazaux 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 while American Marcos Giron beat Canada's Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.
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