Pegula Defeats Keys, Advances to Fourth Australian Open Quarterfinal

Jessica Pegula triumphed over Madison Keys in a pivotal fourth-round match at the Australian Open, defeating her compatriot 6-3, 6-4. This match marked the first time in six years that two American players faced each other in the fourth round of this prestigious tournament.

Pegula Dominates Keys in Australian Open Clash

Faced with the pressure of ending Keys’ title defense, Pegula delivered a commanding performance. This victory not only halted Keys’ hopes of defending her title but also showcased Pegula’s strong commitment and strategic play.

Match Highlights

• Duration: The match lasted for 1 hour and 18 minutes.
• Pegula’s Performance: She broke Keys’ serve four times and returned over 70% of her serves.
• Unforced Errors: Pegula committed only 13 unforced errors while Keys had 28.
• Career Record: Pegula improved her Grand Slam fourth-round match record to 8-2.

Pegula’s strategy involved targeting Keys’ weaknesses, which proved effective from the start. She quickly surged to a 6-3, 4-1 lead, maintaining her dominance throughout the match. “I’ve been playing really well and wanted to stick to my game plan,” she remarked after the match.

Pegula’s Path Ahead

This win adds to Pegula’s impressive track record against American players, bringing her to a remarkable 28-3 since her last loss to Keys at the 2023 US Open. With a current winning record of 13-1 in the past year, she is poised for further success.

Looking forward, Pegula will face either the fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova or Wang Xinyu of China in the quarterfinals, as she aims to advance further in the tournament.