American World No.4 Jessica Pegula gave her heartfelt thanks to the tennis world for continued support during her tough period. She was talking after defeating Jelena Ostapenko in the pre-quarterfinals of the Qatar Open – 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. For the uninitiated, Her mother Kim Pegula, the co-owner of the NFL team Buffalo bills with her father Terry Pegula, had a cardiac arrest in 2022. The family had kept the health issue private until now. It was days back that Jessica Pegula revealed her mother’s condition in “The Player’s Tribune”.
Now she said after defeating Ostapenko, “It’s great. I hope that you are watching. Obviously, it was a huge inspiration and really therapeutic for me to write that piece (which she wrote about her mom) and it was really great to see the response from everyone especially those in the tennis community was really special. really appreciate that.“
Jessica will play the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open. The American will be looking to win the first individual title of 2023 here after losing in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2023 against Victoria Azarenka. Earlier this year, She was instrumental in winning the inaugural United cup for the USA.
Also Read: “Not like Iga or Coco,” Jessica Pegula counts her strengths in comparison to her opponents
Jessica Pegula will be looking to regain the rhythm in Qatar Open
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 became one of the favorites to win the Australian Open midway but Victoria Azarenka had other plans in the quarter-finals. She will be trying to regain the lost rhythm in the Qatar Open.
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