The American tennis player Jessica Pegula Catalan was separated Paula Badosa of the final of WTA 1,000 on the hard court Cincinnati (6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 1h.53′) and will be the rival of the Belarusian this Monday Aryna Sabalenkawhich eliminated the Polish Iga Swiatek in the first semifinal by doubles 6-3.
The second semifinal faced two tennis players in a very positive dynamic, the champions of the first two tournaments of the North American tour before the US OpenBadosa in Washington and Pegula in toronto.
Paula has 10 wins in his last 11 games, losing only by Jelena Ostapenko in the 2nd round of the Canadian tournament, and Jessica extended her streak to nine consecutive victories after defeating the Spanish player.
Badosa started erratically, too flawed, with no consistency in her game, bringing a certain desperation in the first set like water slipping through her hands against a more consistent Pegula who knew how would perfectly exploit Paula’s doubts.
The North American put up 4-0 like a rock and still had the ball for 5-0 and served, but the Spaniard showed his pride and let out a loud cry of liberation when he finally scored the first game of his account (4-1). Badosa threatened to break back in the set (4-2), but Pegula immediately returned the break and closed the first set 6-2.
With another early break, Jessica also got the second set back on track (2-0), but then Badosa began to adjust and find a more determined match plan in line with her usual attacking tennis. Three consecutive games (2-3) convinced the Catalans that a comeback was possible, but the rain appeared at 3-4 and the semifinal was suspended for an hour and a half.
How the break will affect Badosa is resolved immediately: amazingly. The Catalan continued the match with renewed energy, with more cheerful body expressions and shots that immediately rewarded him with the second set (3-6), which he tied, winning eight of the last 10 points played.
Paula had her best chance in the third game of the final set, when she had four balls to go 1-2 and serve, but Pegula saved that tricky situation, keeping the pulse and good work of the Spaniards and he later made the decisive break of the match, in the eighth game (5-3), the perfect moment to settle the next duel (6-3).
Source: La Verdad
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