Pegula targets first Grand Slam semi while Azarenka seeks revenge

The third-seeded American Jessica Pegula will take on the twice-champion Victoria Azarenka on Tuesday in an attempt to advance through that hurdle for the first time in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur were eliminated in shocking first-week upsets, making Pegula the highest seed to survive in the women’s draw.

What Pegula said:

Although Pegula says she feels “weird being a favorite”, the 28-year-old also feels confident and more settled than she has been in the past.

“I have a great shot here. Throughout the whole tournament, I’ve been playing the best I have than in any of my other Grand Slam quarterfinals. That I think helps,” Pegula said.

“I think I feel more experience coming in here… I would say I definitely feel very confident going into this quarterfinal, that I’m playing the best tennis and I have a very good chance of making a semi.”

Azarenka about Pegula

The 33-year-old Azarenka, who was eliminated by Pegula in 2021, is back in the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the first time since becoming a mother and seeks revenge. 

“She’s an amazing player… She got me here, so I definitely want revenge,” Azarenka said, who won the title in 2012 and 2013.

“She’s a great friend of mine, I absolutely adore her. We have really tough battles every single time. We practice with each other. There’s going to be no surprises, absolutely.”

After defeating world No. 1 Swiatek, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan will now play Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, another former Grand Slam champion.

 Two days after turning 20, Ostapenko won the French Open in 2017, but since then, she has only reached one more Grand Slam semifinal while struggling to maintain her form and consistency while getting used to the newfound fame.

 American Sebastian Korda faces Karen Khachanov in his first major quarterfinal matchup in the men’s draw.

 Before defeating Yoshihito Nishioka in three sets, Khachanov defeated another American, Frances Tiafoe, by winning 14 straight games.

 Stefanos Tsitsipas, the third seed, concludes the night session against Czech Jiri Lehecka, who beat the odds by winning all four Grand Slams last year despite never having advanced past the first round.

Also Read: Former university star Ben Shelton reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Australian Open