WASHINGTON: The top-seeded Jessica Pegula continued her impressive run, securing her eighth WTA quarter-final appearance of the year. However, the much-anticipated men’s match between Taylor Fritz and Andy Murray had to be postponed due to heavy rain disrupting the night session of the hardcourt tennis tournament in Washington.
Pegula, currently ranked fourth in the world and the 2019 Washington champion, displayed her skill and determination, defeating Peyton Stearns with a solid 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Pegula to face Svitolina in quarter-final
Her victory sets the stage for an exciting quarter-final clash with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Friday, promising a thrilling showdown for fans to enjoy.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian rising star Marta Kostyuk also made her mark at the tournament, impressively toppling women’s second seed Carolina Garcia of France with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win.
As for the men’s division, top-seeded Taylor Fritz and the experienced three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray were scheduled to battle it out for an ATP quarter-final berth. However, Mother Nature had other plans, and the match had to be rescheduled for the following day.
Local favourite Frances Tiafoe’s match against Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng also faced the same fate, being pushed back due to the persistent rain.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, some players were fortunate enough to complete their matches before the downpour. Fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov emerged victorious against Emil Ruusuvuori, securing a 6-4, 6-3 win.
France’s Ugo Humbert showcased his prowess on the court, defeating Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki with a dominating 6-0, 6-2 victory. American J.J. Wolf also booked his quarter-final spot, overcoming fellow American Michael Mmoh with a tight 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) win.
Looking ahead, Dimitrov is set to face Humbert for a spot in the semi-finals, while Wolf awaits the winner between Tallon Griekspoor and Gael Monfils, whose match was halted due to rain. Jordan Thompson and Christopher Eubanks will also resume their interrupted round of 16 matches, with the winner going on to face either Fritz or Murray.
On the women’s side, Greece’s Maria Sakkari and Canadian Leylah Fernandez had their match postponed to Friday. The victor will earn a coveted quarter-final meeting with Madison Keys later in the day, adding to the excitement of the tournament.
While rain may have disrupted some of the action, the Washington hardcourt tennis tournament is sure to make up for it with the exciting matchups and fierce competition that fans have come to expect. Tennis enthusiasts can look forward to an action-packed Friday as the players strive to move closer to clinching the coveted title.
