Pegula overcomes Sakkari in Doha to reach sixth career final

No.2 seed Jessica Pegula made her first Hologic WTA Tour final of 2023, and sixth of her career, with a three-set defeat of No.5 seed Maria Sakkari in the Qatar TotalEnergies Open semifinals.

Match management: With the wind playing havoc with the ball's trajectory and speed, adjustments were key. For a set-and-a-half, Pegula was the player who adapted her game more effectively. Instead of trying to hit through the wind, she reined in her aggression to play centrally and with greater margin. At the same time, she was alert in taking any chance to disrupt the rhythm of the rallies on her own terms with slices and drop shots.

But up 6-2, 4-2, Pegula began to lose accuracy as Sakkari began to find the mark with her forehand. A pair of double faults as she serve to stay in the set, including one on set point, enabled Sakkari to level the match.

Pegula found her best tennis of the day to race away with the decider, though. After an opening exchange of breaks, the five-time major quarterfinalist surged towards the finishing line with a series of fluent, well-struck winners. Coming forwards to put away points at net was crucial, and appropriately enough a neat forehand volley sealed Pegula's second match point.

In Pegula's words: "That was probably the hardest conditions I've ever had to play in, wind-wise. I'm glad I didn't get too frustrated. I think I played very smart."