Jessica Pegula defeated Emma Navarro 7-5, 6-2 in the Cincinnati Open Round of 32 to reach the next round.
Third-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated fellow American Emma Navarro in straight sets in the Cincinnati Open Round of 32, winning 7-5, 6-2 at the Grandstand. Pegula won 85 points to Navarro’s 71 and converted five of 14 break points, while also winning 69% of her first-serve points.
Pegula Praises Navarro’s Toughness
Pegula admitted that facing Navarro is never easy, despite her strong record in the matchup.
“I feel like every time I go to play Emma, it’s so tough,” Pegula said. “She makes it so physical. She moves so well. She’s like such an all-court player.”
Pegula said she knew patience would be important and was pleased with how she handled the pressure points.
“I think I just played smart and played some, you know, long games and pressure points pretty well when I needed to,” she said.
The American also explained how she managed to build momentum after a closely fought opening set. She said the first set was played at a high level and that winning it gave her confidence to carry the momentum into the second.
Pegula Admits Cincinnati Conditions Were Tough
The match was also affected by rain delays, forcing Pegula to wait before finally taking the court.
“I felt like a big bowl of sawdust today,” she joked, describing the difficulty of staying ready through the delays.
Now into the Round of 16, Pegula knows the challenge will only increase. She will face Sorana Cirstea, whom she has not played in a long time.
“She’s been having a great year,” Pegula said. “She takes the ball early, plays an aggressive game, serve well, returns well. I feel like she’s a pretty all-around player.”
Pegula will now look to carry her momentum into the next round.