“I am not necessarily the favorite,” Jessica Pegula makes an honest confession about her performance after reaching the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinals
Being the top seed left in the draw, Jessica Pegula doesn't think that she is the favorite yet to win the Australian Open 2023.
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Jessica Pegula
American World No.3 Jessica pegula says that she is not yet the favorite yet to win the tournament. Pegula is scheduled to meet two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2023. Before going for the big battle, she wanted to free herself from all the pressure of being the top seed left in the draw. The American qualified for the last eight with a straight-set victory over Barbora Krejcikova in the pre-quarterfinals: 7-5, 6-2.
With the top two seeds Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur already out of the tournament, the crowd favorite Pegula has odds in favor of her. Iga Swiatek who was the top favorite shockingly lost to Elena Rybakina in the pre-quarter-finals. But when Pegula was asked about the same, she said that she was not very surprised with that result.
As Pegula quoted, “The defeat of Iga (Swiatek) didn’t really affect me. To be honest, I already thought before the match that Rybakina could beat her. That’s why I wasn’t very surprised when I saw the result.“
The American continued on how she herself as the top seed left, “It might be interesting for me to see the biggest seeds being eliminated, but I think that a lot of the players still in the running can beat me. Of course, there is Rybakina, winner of Wimbledon last year, Caro (Garcia), winner of the Masters, and even Vika (Azarenka), who has been playing very well since Monday. Certainly, I am the best ranked now but I am not necessarily the favorite to win this tournament.”
Jessica Pegula is in top form this season
The American 28-year-old Jessica Pegula will be looking to play her first Grand Slam semi-final in the Australian Open 2023. She has looked in great touch since the start of the season. In 2023, she is yet to lose a match as well. The American played a vital role in winning the United Cup for her country as well.
She destroyed Iga Swiatek 6-2,6-2 in the United cup. A spectacular win against the Italian Martina Trevisan 6-4,6-2 in the finals of the United Cup followed this. With the rejuvenated ability to hit the ground strokes and a champion’s mentality, Pegula is definitely in hunger for more success. She was able to reach 3 out of the 4 slams last year. She also has the experience of playing two quarter-finals in the Australian Open already.
In a draw that opened up heavily in favor of the American with top two seeds Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur already out, Pegula will definitely be the player to beat for the rest of the competitors.
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Vipul Payattuparambil
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