Alexandrova builds on upset of Swiatek, outlasts Pegula to reach Miami semis
Ekaterina Alexandrova came back from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula on Wednesday in Miami. Alexandrova will go up against another American, Danielle Collins, in the semi-finals.
Jannik Sinner, Miami 2024 | © Julien Nouet for Tennis Majors
Ekaterina Alexandrova was coming off the biggest win of career. Two days later she added another match to her list of best-ever results.
Alexandrova, who upset world No 1 Iga Swiatek in round four of the Miami Open, overcame Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday night to earn a semi-final spot in this WTA 1000 tournament. The Russian set up a showdown against Danielle Collins after one hour and 58 minutes.
ALEXANDROVA RECOVERS FROM SLOW START
For a while it looked like Alexandrova would be unable to maintain momentum from her defeat of Swiatek. The 29-year-old was broken twice in the first set against Pegula — including at 3-5 — and did not get any breaks of her own.
However, it was a much different story the rest of the way. Pegula really didn’t do much wrong, but Alexandrova raised her level. The world No 16 broke her opponent twice in the second set and also twice in the third. Pegula recovered an early break in the third set, but another loss of serve at 4-4 proved to be the American’s undoing. A routine hold for Alexandrova at 5-4 clinched the victory.
“It was extremely difficult for me because she played amazing,” Alexandrova said of Pegula. “In the third set there were sometimes the kind of rallies where I couldn’t understand how it was possible to return that ball, but it always [came] back.
“I just tried to play every single point [like] I knew she was going to be everywhere, so I need to do something, and I was trying to wait and use any opportunities that I got.”
ALEXANDROVA SUDDENLY BECOMES GIANT KILLER
Less than three months into the 2024 campaign, Alexandrova has already doubled her career count of top-10 victories. She had three all time heading into this year; she already has three this season alone. In addition to taking down Swiatek and Pegula in Miami, Alexandro upset Elena Rybakina in Adelaide.
She is now 6-17 lifetime against top-10 opponents.
“(I’m) trying to be more consistent on the baseline, not to rush things, and just play the points,” Alexandrova explained.
