Guadalajara Open: Pegula books spot in final and becomes WTA No 3

American Jessica Pegula, the No 3 seed, moved into the final of the Guadalajara Open by winning against Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (3), 6-1 at the Centro Panamericano de Tenis on Saturday night.

Pegula, ranked No 5, will face the winner of the match between Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 4 seed, and Czech Marie Bouzkova next. The match was delayed because of the rain just after Sakkari won an 83-minute first set (7-5). The match is scheduled to resume at 1 pm local time on Sunday, five hours before the final.

This is Pegula’s second WTA 1000 final this year after Madrid, on clay, in May, when she was beaten by Ons Jabeur. Pegula had to save three match points in Guadalajara in the first round against Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion, (2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8)), before cruising through without losing a set against Canadian Bianca Andreescu (6-4, 6-4) and Sloane Stephens (6-2, 6-2).

Pegula will be ranked No 3 on Monday

This result means that she will be WTA No 3 on Monday, her career-best ranking. Only Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur gave won more WTA points than her this year, even though Pegula has not won any title on the Tour since her sole trophy in Washington, in 2019.

She is one of the most consistent players on the Tour with the most WTA 1000 wins over the last two seasons (38). Four of the five semi-finals she reached in 2022 have been in WTA 1000s (Madrid, Toronto, Miami and Guadalajara) – the only exception was in San Diego, WTA 500.

Azarenka’s best run in 2022

Azarenka, who had never lost against Pegula before (now 2-1 in the head to head) made the better start, leading 3-0 with only four points lost, then 4-1, before losing control.

Ranked No 37, she had her best run in 2022 at Guadalajara, beating Russian lucky loser Elina Avanesyan (6-4, 6-2), Spaniard Paula Badosa, the top seed (6-2 ret.), American Madison Keys, the No 13 seed (6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1) and American Coco Gauff, the No 5 seed (7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-3). Azarenka will be back in the top 30 on Monday.

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