Pegula takes out Raducanu to reach Cincinnati quarter-finals

Jessica Pegula was too good for Emma Raducanu on Thursday in Cincinnati, as the American won in straight sets to book her spot in the quarter-finals. Pegula will go up against Caroline Garcia.

Jessica Pegula celebrates a point at Toronto || Zuma / Panoramic

Ricky Dimon

August 19, 2022

Emma Raducanu was on a roll at the Western & Southern Open. She ousted Serena Williams in the first round and then crushed Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2 to reach the last 16.

However, Raducanu ran into a roadblock in the form of Jessica Pegula on Thursday night. Pegula punched her ticket to the quarter-finals in Cincinnati by beating the Brit 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 42 minutes.

Hear her ROAR 🗣️

🇺🇸 @JLPegula stops Raducanu's run and reaches the quarterfinals at the @CincyTennis once again! pic.twitter.com/46T8HBFjSq
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2022

The American turned in a clean performance in which she was broken only once and struck three aces without double-faulting a single time. Three breaks of Raducanu’s serve were more than enough for Pegula to prevail in straight sets.

Next up for the world No 8 in the quarter-finals on Thursday is French qualifier Caroline Garcia.

I feel like I am under the radar a little bit. I feel like a lot of people don’t know me, or don’t care that I’m the No 1-ranked American.
Jessica Pegula

Pegula is currently the top-ranked American and finds herself in the top 10 in both singles and doubles. She captured the Toronto doubles title with Coco Gauff last week. It has been amazing season for the 28-year-old and now it continues into the Cincinnati quarters.

“I feel like I am under the radar a little bit,” Pegula commented. “I feel like a lot of people don’t know me or don’t care that I’m the No 1-ranked American. ‘Oh, whatever. She’s kind of boring.’ But I kind of like it that way, as well. Listen, I know I’m not 18 and a phenom, and I know that I haven’t actually won any big titles yet — but I just think my journey was a lot different. I hope it inspires people to know that even if maybe you are a little older, maybe people kind of think you missed your window or you are not really going to improve, that you can always improve and you can always get better.

“I think I’m just a perfect example of that. I don’t mind being under the radar. I don’t necessarily want extra attention. I’m fine with it. Yeah, I know my story is not the one people really want to root for. I’m kind of, like, ‘It’s fine.’ I will just be here and try to keep winning and doing my thing.

“Yeah, I think I like it that way.”