Pegula Rolls Past Sakkari To Reach Tokyo Final, Kudermetova Wins Thriller

In Tokyo at the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament in semifinals action the 2nd-seeded Jessica Pegula eased past the streaking Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3.

Sakkari came into the match having won seven straight matches and 14 straight sets highlighted by her best career win in Guadalajara. But after losing to Sakkari in the Washington semifinals, Pegula had her revenge today.

The American broke Sakkari five times in the match and punished the Greek star on her serve.

“When you’re top ranked, I think it just depends on how you play that day and how you execute your game plan, and some days it’s better than others,” Pegula said to the WTA. “I think the faster courts here probably help me a little more than the slower surfaces I’ve played her in the past, so I tried to take advantage of that.”

Pegula reaches her 8th career final where she will seeking her 4th trophy against No. 8 seed Veronika Kudermetova.

The 26-year-old Kudermetova won a thriller over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6(8-6), 6-7(2-7), 6-3.

Kudermetova connected on 16 aces and lost just two point on first serve in the third set. Pavlyuchenkova tossed in 11 aces to help her countrywoman.

Kudermetova is now up on has the better of Pavlyuchenkova 3-2 in their tour-level battles. She makes her 7th career final and she is eyeing her 2nd career title, first title since 21 Charleston (d Kovinic).

Kudermetova is a perfect 1-0 against Pegula in their tour-level contests winning in the Madrid quarterfinals earlier in the year.

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