We are at the business end of the Guadalajara Open as Victoria Azarenka and Jessica Pegula square off in what promises to be a riveting semi-final clash.
Victoria Azarenka
The 2-time Grand Slam champion has not been at her best this season. She lost her first match in the Ostrava Open prior to the Guadalajara Open. Azarenka has managed to turn things around and reached her first semifinal in 2022.
The experienced campaigner made light work of Elina Avanesyan in the round of 64. Azarenka won the match 6-4, 6-2. In the second round, Azarenka bagged the first set against top-seeded Paula Badosa. The Spaniard was forced to retire soon after with illness. The Belarusian had to dig deep to win her next couple of matches against two talented American players. In the round of 16, Azarenka got the better of Madison Keys 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1. The impressive Coco Gauff faced Azarenka in the quarter-finals. The 33-year-old used all his experience to edge past Gauff in an intriguing three-set affair 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-3.
Jessica Pegula
The world No. 5 has reached her second consecutive semifinal and fourth at a WTA 1000 event. Pegula has been in fine form this season but a title has eluded her so far. She would be hoping to change that in the Guadalajara Open.
The 28-year-old received a first-round bye and faced 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the round of 32. Pegula came back from a set down to win the match 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8). In the round of 16, Pegula produced a solid performance against former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and won the match 6-4, 6-4. The quarter-finals saw Pegula take on another former Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens. Pegula produced another convincing display to win the match 6-2, 6-2.
Head-to-Head and Prediction
The head-to-head scoreline currently stands at 2-1 in favor of Azarenka. She won their most recent encounter at the 2021 BNP Paribas Open in straight sets.
Prediction: Jessica Pegula to win in three sets.
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