© Darren Carroll/USTA
Jessica Pegula’s third-round clash against Elina Svitolina at the US Open lasted an hour and 51 minutes and went the distance. In the end, the world no. 3 prevailed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 over the Ukrainian.The Pegula-Svitolina match-up was their second meeting during this year’s North American swing.
The previous time they played each other this year, Pegula had triumphed after having come from a set down. This time around, Pegula was the one who took the lead in the match although Svitolina did her best to push the match into the third set.In the deciding set, while serving first, Svitolina won her first two service games.
Thereafter, the set was dictated by the racquet of Pegula who won the next four consecutive games to get into the second week of her home Slam.Pegula faced only three break points in the match and lost her serve just once – in the second set, in the 10th game.
The 29-year-old, however, brought up eight break points on her opponent’s serve of which, she converted three. Pegula finished the match with five more winners to Svitolina’s 26 and had 35 unforced errors to the latter’s 21.In the next round, Pegula will have an American derby against
