Jessica Pegula defeated Anna Kalinskaya by saving five championship points to win the Berlin Open and solidify her place in the Wimbledon championship.
The athlete wins her first WTA Tour championship on grass with this victory. Moreover, she advanced to the Wimbledon quarter-finals before falling to eventual winner Marketa Vondrousova in three sets.
Pegula’s performance at the Berlin Open
She first defeated world No. 2 and doubles partner Coco Gauff in her rain-delayed semi-final match last Sunday, winning 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).
Currently world No. 5, Pegula had to battle her way back against Kalinskaya of Russia, overcoming a 1-4 disadvantage in the third set to win the match 6-7 (0-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
Now, the 30-year-old player is expected to compete at the Eastbourne International before the start of Wimbledon on July 1.
In other news, Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan defeated Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) at the Birmingham Classic to attain her maiden grass-court championship.
Her previous two victories had come on clay courts, so this was her first championship in three years.
“It’s my first on grass and I don’t even know how I’m feeling because I wasn’t expecting this to happen at all,” the 29-year-old athlete said.
Source: BBC