Ostapenko beats Pegula, storms into Beijing quarterfinals

BEIJING — Jelena Ostapenko earned her second High 5 win of the season after defeating No.4 Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2 within the Spherical of 16 on the China Open. The win is the Latvian’s first over Pegula since 2015. 

A semifinalist in 2017, Ostapenko will face Liudmila Samsonova within the quarterfinals. No.22 Samsonova got here by means of a bodily 2-hour and 55-minute effort to defeat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5. Ostapenko leads their head-to-head 2-1. 

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“I believe I at all times play fairly effectively in China,” Ostapenko mentioned. “Lastly tournaments are again right here and with a number of followers, which I like quite a bit.

“I believe after US Open I had a little bit bit extra confidence and I had actually good preparation earlier than US Open. I felt like some matches, even throughout the 12 months, they have been shut matches. I used to be shedding them however they have been very shut. I felt like in some unspecified time in the future they must go my manner. It is working now.” 

Ostapenko entered the match seeking to avenge her three-set loss to Pegula earlier this season in Doha. There, Pegula saved match factors on her technique to a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory. Pegula led the general head-to-head 3-1, with Ostapenko’s sole win approaching carpet in Quebec Metropolis in 2015.

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Coming off a fast turnaround from Tokyo after a run to her third remaining of the season, Pegula was seeking to hand Ostapenko her fourth straight event exit by the hands of an American. After beautiful then No.1 Iga Swiatek within the fourth spherical of the US Open, Ostapenko had not tallied back-to-back wins till Beijing. She bowed out to Coco Gauff on the US Open, Danielle Collins in San Diego, and Sofia Kenin in San Diego. 

After falling behind an early break within the first set, Ostapenko dominated Pegula from the baseline for the rest of the match. After getting damaged to path 3-2, Ostapenko discovered her vary and overpowered the American. Ostapenko’s cumulative return strain paid off within the set’s remaining recreation. With Pegula serving up 40-0 to stage the set at 5-5, Ostapenko took the sport to deuce with a baseline flurry earlier than Pegula double-faulted on set level. 

“I believe there have been a number of necessary video games within the first recreation, particularly at 5-4 when it was 40-0 on her serve,” Ostapenko mentioned. “I used to be making an attempt to remain within the recreation and to combat for each level. After I gained that first set, I believe at first of the second set, I began fairly assured. 

Ostapenko continued her momentum within the second set, constructing a fast 3-0 lead earlier than simply closing out the 78-minute match. 

“Simply basically, I believe I performed effectively however it was not straightforward as a result of the court docket was very gradual and the rallies have been tremendous lengthy. I felt the court docket is a bit slower than different tournaments.”

“I felt like in case you go for very harmful photographs it did not actually work on these courts,” Ostapenko mentioned.” So I attempted to open the purpose up and once I had the prospect, simply to complete it. Taking part in extra angles labored fairly effectively.”

Ostapenko completed the match with a sterling stat sheet, hitting 24 winners to only 11 unforced errors. Pegula completed with 12 winners to 12 unforced errors however served simply 51 p.c of her first serves in.