WATCH: Jessica Pegula left dumbfounded by her own season record as she defeats Elena Rybakina to start the WTA Finals 2023 campaign

Jessica Pegula will play against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka next.

WATCH: Jessica Pegula left dumbfounded by her own season record as she defeats Elena Rybakina to start the WTA Finals 2023 campaign

Jessica Pegula (Image via: Imago)

American No.2 Jessica Pegula recently beat 4th seed Elena Rybakina at the ongoing season-end WTA Finals in Cancun with her latest win over the Kazakh. With her straight set victory over Rybakina, Pegula set a new record for her consecutive first set wins. However, when the American was made aware of her achievement, she expressed shock at her own record.

Canadian Open winner Pegula defeated Rybakina in straight sets to claim her first match win at the season-ending event. Though the Kazakh was leading in the first set with a score of 5-3 games, she went on to make a series of unforced errors. This is when Pegula stepped up her game and demolished the 24-year-old with a 7-5, 6-2 win.

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In an interview with Tennis Channel following her first win at the event, the American was informed that she has set the record of 48-0 for her first set wins. Pegula was flabbergasted and was taken aback with the information. The player was at a loss for words and went on to state that she aims to “zero in” on her first sets.

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I've got to look at it in a positive way. Thank you, that's a crazy stat.

At the ongoing WTA season-end Finals, Jessica Pegula is seeded at number 5. She will take on World No.1, Aryna Sabalenka, in her next match.

Jessica Pegula feels closer to her roots

American seed, Jessica Pegula recently won the Open in Korea. She beat Chinese player, Yue Yuan in straight sets, scoring 6-2, 6-3 to clinch the title. The tournament carried personal significance for the 29-year-old due to her half-Korean descent. Jessica’s mother, Kim Pegula, was born in Seoul where she was adopted by Ralph and Marilyn Kerr and brought to the United States.

Jessica Pegula
Jessica Pegula(Image via: X)

Dedicating the win to her mother in a post shared on the social media site ‘X’, Pegula wrote:

This one is extra special. I am half Korean. I don’t speak and I am still learning about my culture (my mom was adopted and left on a doorstep of a Korean police station) but I have been overwhelmed by the support from Korean fans...

The American pro capped off the short post with a thank-you greeting in Korean.

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