Pegula on how she saved match points to beat Potapova: ‘No idea!’

It could have been the humidity, it could have been the late hour (gone 1am in Miami) – but Jessica Pegula had no explanation for how she managed to save two match points to beat Anastasia Potapova and make it through to the Miami Open semi-final.

Asked after the match to define the key to her 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2) win, she replied: “No idea. I mean, I don’t know. I was just competing and I was trying to play my game or have my game plan. She was just playing fearless, just going for her shots and moving well and just returning well.

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“I think the key was just not to get too frustrated and just try and stay at least one break in that third, even though I was like gassed, just try and see what happens. I knew regardless she was going to get tight trying to close it out. I think she got a little tight, and I was just able to take my chances, I guess.”

Pegula: Rybakina and Sabalenka are the ones to beat

The 29-year-old admitted that she was flagging in the third set, adding: “I haven’t been that physically tired in just a really long time. Just the humidity was taking so much out of me, and I haven’t been able to play in humidity like that in a while.

“It was just really tough, so really, it was just pure will. Yeah, it means a lot.”

She next faces Elena Rybakina, who she beat in this tournament last year, in the round of 32 – but the Kazahkstan star was a very different prospect then, before she won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon.

“I’m just going to have to go out there and compete and play my game. I mean, she’s been playing some great tennis. I feel like her and Sabalenka are the ones to beat right now, so it’s going to be a great test and I think a deserved semi for a tournament like this.”

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