Iga Swiatek eyes 8th title of the season after defeating Jessica Pegula in San Diego Open semi-finals

Iga Swiatek defeated Jessica Pegula in San Diego Open semi-finals

Iga Swiatek beats Jessica Pegula in San Diego Open semi-finals. (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: World number one Iga Swiatek came from behind to down No.6 Jessica Pegula in the San Diego Open semi-finals in a three-setter 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday, October 15.

The three-time Grand Slam singles champion Swiatek will play either Danielle Collins or Donna Vekic in the final as she eyes to clinch her eighth title of the season.

Swiatek outlasted Pegula to win her 63rd match this year, equalling Angelique Kerber’s 2016 record for the most WTA Tour victories. The Polish player ensured herself to finish off the season with more than 10,000 points in the WTA Tour rankings after the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.

Rain delay = crossword puzzles 🧠@iga_swiatek | #SanDiegoOpen pic.twitter.com/nGEFBLK40l— wta (@WTA) October 16, 2022

The World No.1 now has 23-1 record in the United States this year. The first set saw three breaks of serve as the momentum kept on shifting from one end to another. America’s Pegula saved two break points and levelled the match at 4-all when the Polish star missed a forehand wide.

Pegula served for the first set as Swiatek double-faulted off the top of the net. Swiatek found her momentum after an hour of play’s suspension due to rain. The Pole took a 3-0 advantage and went onto convert her second set point with a forehand and forced the decider.

The top seeded player saved all three break points while serving at 2-all in the third set. She then broke Pegula to take a 4-2 lead and wrapped up the match to enter her ninth final of 2022.

Earlier this year, Swiatek reclaimed her French Open title after defeating Coco Gauff in the final. The Pole star won a second Grand Slam in 2022 as she clinched her maiden title at the US Open after defeating Ons Jabeur in New York.