Facing the 5th seed and last year’s finalist Jessica Pegula, the Kazakh star overcame a shaky start to claim a hard-fought victory. After dropping the first set 6-2, Rybakina recalibrated her game to dominate the subsequent sets, finishing the match 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Rybakina’s serve was her ultimate weapon on the Florida hardcourts, as she hammered 15 aces throughout the two-hour and 15-minute encounter. This marks Rybakina’s fifth consecutive head-to-head win against Pegula, solidifying her dominance in their rivalry.
The Wimbledon champion will face Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal.
