By Ros Satar
- Emma Raducanu [10] def. Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2
- Raducanu v Jessica Pegula
- First Meeting
CINCINNATI, USA – Emma Raducanu continued where she left off against Serena Williams, dominating Victoria Azarenka and faces Jessica Pegula next.
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Emma Raducanu [10] def. Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2
It was a case of carrying on from where she left off as Emma Raducanu breezed past former World No. 1 and two-time Slam champion Victoria Azarenka in the second round of the Western and Southern Open. Azarenka looked step slow and struggled to find her range in the opening exchanges, with Raducanu not having to do more than just keeping the ball in the lines.
After winning 10 games in a row (17, if you count seven games in a row, with a bagel to boot delivered to Serena Williams), Azarenka finally got herself on the board, bringing up two breakpoints as Raducanu served for the match, before the Brit finally closed it out on her second match point.
Despite having a break point in only the second game of the match, it was Azarenka’s only chance to make any kind of impact until the final game of the match. She has struggled to find form against the newer players on the tour, and her North American hard-court swing was hampered with visa issues getting into Canada, but for much of the match looked very much off the pace.
Emma Raducanu [10] v Jessica Pegula | H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Emma Raducanu [10] v Jessica Pegula [7] | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA Cincinnati | Ohio, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $28,730 |
| First night match on Centre Court, not before 7pm (Midnight BST) | Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2022)
| H2H: | Emma Raducanu (WR 13) | Jessica Pegula (WR 8) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Debut | R16 (2021) |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 39.2 | 36.2 |
| Return Points Won % | 46.7 | 42.4 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 48.0 | 41.7 |
| Break Points Saved % | 59.5 | 63.2 |
| Total Points Won % | 51.3 | 52.3 |
This is a close match-up with Jessica Pegula being a lot more successful when it comes to facing pressure on her serve.
Playing Styles & Prediction
Pegula’s growing belief over the last few years has helped propel her into the top ten, with a mix of improving key elements of her game and enjoying doing her homework on players. In that respect, she should be a solid match-up for Raducanu, and a far better test of where the Brit’s game is at, compared to her last two matches which left her somewhat bemused.
Pegula enjoys mixing things up so again this will be a solid test of Raducanu’s fitness and stamina, as this should go the distance.
Prediction: Pegula in three sets.
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