Key Highlights
- Jessica Pegula defeats Iva Jovic in a tough match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
- Pegula advances to face Clara Tauson in the quarterfinals after their first meeting on the WTA Tour.
- The two players share similarities, with Pegula noting Jovic’s aggressive style and serve effectiveness.
- Despite a strong performance from both, Pegula maintained her service game and capitalized late in the match.
Pegula Conquers ‘Mini-Me’ in Jovic, Eyes Tauson
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — After her second-round victory over Varvara Gracheva, Jessica Pegula found herself facing another formidable opponent: Iva Jovic. “I think it’s going to be a tough match for me,” she said to wtatennis.com. “Iva, we’ve never played, but I feel like she kind of plays like a mini-me, so it’s going to be tough.”
Despite the similarities, Pegula dominated with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jovic in their first meeting on the WTA Tour. “The way that she plays, I definitely see some similarities,” Pegula explained. “She tries to take the ball early, she tries to return really hard and through the middle. I think she likes to change the direction of the ball very well, especially off of her backhand.”
The first set was a tight affair, with Pegula securing a pivotal break at 4-3 to take the lead. She maintained her strong service game, landing 98% of her first serves and recording 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.
Despite a solid serving game from both players, with Jovic also showcasing an identical 98% of first serves landing, the difference came on the return. Pegula capitalized late in the first set and well into the second, winning 41% receiving points compared to Jovic’s 23%. “Her serve, honestly, is pretty good,” Pegula said. “I think it’s gotten a lot better, even from last year when I hit with her a few times or when I played her doubles as well.”
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 Jovic’s disbelief. The two traded holds in the final two games as Pegula closed the tight first set in 45 minutes.
The Match Against Tauson
With her victory over Jovic, Pegula advances to face Clara Tauson in the quarterfinals. “I’ve never played her either,” Pegula said. “We played doubles, maybe a long, long time ago. It’s hard to remember her ball, and I know she serves very well. She’s a tall girl.
It’s a big ball. I know she plays very well here and can be a very powerful player.”
After securing a pivotal break in the first set, Pegula dominated from there, taking the next five games to advance. “She’s definitely a little bit more intense than I am,” Pegula noted. “She seems so focused and very routined in what she does, and I’m probably maybe a little bit different in that.”
Reflecting on Her Performance
Pegula’s match against Jovic was not always smooth sailing. She struggled with a few mishits or unforced errors down the line or with too much power but ultimately won 41% receiving points compared to Jovic’s 23%. “The way that she plays, I definitely see some similarities,” Pegula said. “She tries to take the ball early, she tries to return really hard and through the middle. I think she likes to change the direction of the ball very well, especially off of her backhand.”
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.
For now, Pegula looks forward to her quarterfinal match against Tauson. “I’ve never played her either, kind of a similar situation where — I actually don’t even think I even practiced with her, so I really, I don’t remember,” Pegula said. “We played doubles, maybe a long, long time ago.”
It’s clear that as she progresses through the tournament, Pegula will face challenges but is well-prepared to handle them. The road ahead remains uncertain, and only time will tell how her journey unfolds in Dubai.
