American hardcourt dynamo Jessica Pegula improved to 17-5 for the season after a battling three-set comeback win over Anna Kalinskaya.
2025 WTA Tour
WTA 1000
Miami Open
Miami Gardens, Miami, Florida (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 16 Matches- 24th March
Jessica Pegula (4) 0.41 vs Marta Kostyuk (22) 1.85
The match highlighted both her fighting quality and recent troubles (she has been far from her fluid best this season). Pegula took to the court once again following that epic win, ultimately withdrawing from her doubles match due to a thigh issue. Was that merely a precaution? In any event, Pegula has reached two hardcourt finals this year, losing in the Adelaide and clinching the Austin title. However, she never met a single player ranked inside the top 50 in Austin. She has been eliminated by lower-ranked players in all three previous WTA 1000 events this season (including a straight-sets defeat to Noskova in Dubai). The 2024 US Open finalist- and three-time WTA 1000 champ- hasn’t exuded her typical quality this year. But she does possess a solid record in Miami, reaching back-to-back semifinals in 2022 and 2023.
Marta Kostyuk ended her round of 32 trouncing of Anna Blinkova in audacious fashion, hitting an ace with an underarm serve to clinch the match 6-2, 6-1. It was quite unexpected and probably made for a slightly tense atmosphere at the post-match handshake. The gifted Ukrainian shot-maker hasn’t quite been able to replicate the form that she showed at the beginning of last season (where she reached the Aussie Open quarterfinals and reached two WTA finals). But she does have a solid 10-7 record this season, highlighted by an impressive quarterfinal run in Qatar (where she easily saw off Coco Gauff in straight sets). Kostyuk is a crafty all-court player with excellent athleticism and a high tennis IQ. She can lose concentration in matches and needs to work on becoming more mentally resilient.
The Verdict: Pegula to win in three at 3- Pegula leads the head-to-head 2-1. However, Kostyuk won their most recent meeting, overcoming the American in straight sets in last year’s San Diego semifinals. This should be a tight clash, with Pegula looking to dictate proceedings from the back of the court. I think that Pegula’s greater depth and consistency of shot should give her the edge in three.
