3rd seed Jessica Pegula takes on Ukrainian youngster Marta Kostyuk in the third round of the 2023 Australian Open on Friday.
The American veteran began the season on a promising note with four wins in five matches at the first-ever United Cup tournament. She played a pivotal role in the USA winning the 18-team competition.
In the Australian Open so far, has not lost a set and was made to sweat in only one of the four sets she played so far. In the first round, she made light work of Jaqueline Cristian as she defeated the youngster 6-0, 6-1. Pegula followed it up with another win against Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). The 28-year-old was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set but Sasnovich pushed her into a tiebreak. Pegula used her experience to overcome the little scare and finished the match in 1hr 31 mins in the Rod Laver Arena.
The 20-year-old played in both tournaments in Adelaide before beginning her Australian Open campaign. In the Adelaide International 1, Kostyuk reached the quarterfinals and defeated Elena Rybakina in one of the matches in the tournament.
Kostyuk did not have a great run in the Adelaide International 2 as her campaign ended with a loss in the first qualifying match to Shelby Rogers. The talented Ukrainian defeated 28th seed Amanda Anisimova in the first round to get off to a strong start at the Australian Open. Kostyuk hit 8 aces in the match. In the second round, Kostyuk annihilated Olivia Gadecki in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 without breaking a sweat.
Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk have faced each other only once so far. The former won their only meeting at the 2022 Western & Southern Open in three sets. Therefore, the head-to-head scoreline currently stands at 0-0.
Prediction: Jessica Pegula to win in straight sets.
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