American Jessica Pegula had to dig deep to beat Victoria Azarenka in the US Open third round and keep alive her hopes of winning a career-first Grand Slam on home soil.
In a 6-1 7-5 victory, 2024 finalist Pegula cruised through the first set before former world number one Azarenka fought back valiantly despite struggling with a leg injury.
Meanwhile, Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini suffered a surprise 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 defeat by world number 60 Marketa Vondrousova.
Paolini was beaten in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon last year, but has failed to progress beyond the fourth round at any Slam this year.
Pegula, who suffered a heartbreaking defeat by Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s New York final, will face either her compatriot Ann Li or Australia’s world number 126 Priscilla Hon in the fourth round.
“I just tried to focus on going back to my strategy, things that went well in the first set,” said the 31-year-old when asked how she arrested her second-set slide.
“I thought I moved and scrambled really well, I wanted to make the match physical.
“My results haven’t been too amazing the last couple of months, so to be able to turn it around was awesome.”
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