Jessica Pegula has now reached the singles quarterfinals at every major
The top-ranked American brushed aside Lesia Tsurenko, 6-1, 6-3, to complete the Grand Slam set at Wimbledon on Sunday.
World No. 4 Jessica Pegula was down a break in the third set of her first-round match to countrywoman Lauren Davis on the opening day of Wimbledon. By Sunday, the Buffalo, N.Y. native is through to the final eight at the grass-court major for the first time in her career.
Pegula needed 74 minutes to dispatch Lesia Tsurenko, 6-1, 6-3. She claimed 52 percent of her return points to keep Tsurenko on her toes throughout the encounter.
After missing a pair of match points, Pegula was forced to wait a little longer when the Ukrainian called for the trainer at deuce to address what appeared to be a blister on her right foot. Minutes later, the top-ranked American wrapped up the 14-point game, correctly challenging a backhand return down the line that chair umpire Kader Nouni overruled as being out.
“I’m definitely going to give him a lot for that last call. I’m glad I challenged it,” Pegula said with a smile during an on-court interview. “If that’s what it takes to win the match, it’s great.
“It was tough there at the end. I came out playing really well, exactly how I wanted to play.”
With the victory, Pegula has now advanced to the quarterfinals at all four majors. She joins Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys as the active American competitors on the WTA Tour to achieve the feat.
“I’m so glad to make the Final 8 [Club] here. I hope I get my name on the wall somewhere,” she said. “Sometimes I see it and it lists all the names, so hopefully I’m there next year.”
The 29-year-old is looking to get beyond that stage for the first time however, having fallen on her first five attempts. At this year’s Australian Open, Victoria Azarenka dismissed Pegula to reach the semifinals.
This time, it's left-hander Marketa Vondrousova who stands between Pegula and an elusive semifinal berth. Vondrousova rallied past 32nd seed Marie Bouzkova, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, to seal an all-Czech contest.
Two days earlier, Tsurenko staved off five match points against Ana Bogdan to come through the longest women's singles tie-break in major history.