{"id":475774,"date":"2026-02-18T11:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/475774\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:57:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:57:07","slug":"pegula-conquers-mini-me-in-jovic-faces-tauson-in-dubai-quarterfinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/475774\/","title":{"rendered":"Pegula conquers ‘mini-me’ in Jovic, faces Tauson in Dubai quarterfinals"},"content":{"rendered":"

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — After her second-round win over Varvara Gracheva<\/a>, Jessica Pegula said that playing Iva Jovic was in some ways a “mini-me.”<\/p>\n

“I think it’s going to be a tough match for me. Iva, we’ve never played, but I feel like she kind of plays like a mini-me, so it’s going to be tough,” Pegula said Tuesday. “[Iva’s] going to have nothing to lose, and she’s been really hot, beating and winning a lot of matches this year.”<\/p>\n

Coincidentally, Jovic was Pegula’s guest on their recent Player’s Box podcast episode — filmed before Dubai — and in one of their questions to Jovic, they asked her what player did she learn the most from growing up. Jovic answered with Pegula.<\/p>\n

In their third round match at the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the experienced Pegula had the upper hand in a 6-4, 6-2 win over the up-and-coming Jovic in their first meeting on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. Pegula advances to face Clara Tauson in the quarterfinals, who defeated Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2.<\/p>\n

After securing a pivotal break in the first set to take a 4-3 lead, Pegula dominated from there, maintaining a strong service game — she landed 98% of her first serves and recorded five aces. Pegula was not broken in the match, and among her aces, she took advantage of Jovic’s wingspan, sending some curling serves that Jovic could not reach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Similarly, Jovic also showcased a solid serving game with an identical 98% of first serves landing. The difference came on the return, where Pegula capitalized late in the first set and well into the second. Initially, Pegula struggled with a few mishits or unforced errors down the line or with too much power, but she ultimately won 41% receiving points compared to Jovic’s 23%.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the first break in the match at 4-3 in the first set, Pegula hit a winner that narrowly clipped the sideline, much to the disbelief of Jovic, who could only watch the hawk-eye system show the ball’s trajectory. The two traded holds in the final two games as Pegula closed the tight first set in 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

Despite a Jovic hold to begin the second set, Pegula went on a tear, taking the next five games. Trailing 3-1, 0-40, Jovic fought back to force a deuce and save three break points, but Pegula’s backhand winner a couple shots later, scored the next break and solidified a lead Jovic could not overcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Pegula and Tauson will meet for the first time on the WTA Tour.<\/p>\n

More to come…<\/p>\n

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