Pegula rolls past Haddad Maia into Doha semifinals

 Pegula rolls past Haddad Maia into Doha semifinals

No.2 seed Jessica Pegula eased through to her first semifinal of the season with a straight-sets victory over Beatriz Haddad Maia in Doha.

Jessica Pegula is making the most of her second chance in Doha. A day after saving two match points in a thrilling three-set victory over Jelena Ostapenko, the No.2 seed was at her efficient best in a 6-3, 6-2 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia in Thursday's quarterfinals. 

Needing just 85 minutes to beat Haddad Maia in their first meeting, Pegula is through to her second career semifinal at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, having first done so as a qualifier in 2021.

Words from the winner: Pegula won six matches to reach the final four in Doha two years ago, but matches the feat this year with just two wins after a first-round bye. 

"It's a little bit different than the qualifying days," Pegula joked after the match. "It's a lot easier physically, but definitely still very tough with how strong and tough the field is."

Match management: Pegula managed cool and blustery conditions at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex the better of the two players. She hit 22 winners to 16 unforced errors in victory, while Haddad Maia totaled only 12 winners to 20 unforced errors. 

Pegula also broke serve four times, and after losing serve to start the match, never again trailed. She broke Haddad Maia back immediately, and won eight of nine games played from 2-2 to put herself firmly in command.



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