(Charleston) Top-seeded Jessica Pegula saved four match points in the third-set tiebreaker and beat Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7) on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Charleston Open.
Later Friday, recent Miami Open champion Danielle Collins won her 11e straight match by beating Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-4.
Pegula herself wasted four match points while leading 5-4 in the final set. But tied 7-7 in the tiebreaker, Azarenka missed with Pegula at the net, then pushed a serve return past the baseline.
“I played well today, but you know what? There are things that happen and you have to get through them,” Pegula said. “And I managed to do it today and I’m going to use that feeling, that confidence. »
Pegula, ranked fifth in the world, also reached the semifinals in Charleston last year, but lost to Belinda Bencic.
Pegula will play Saturday against Daria Kasatkina for a place in the final. Kasatkina defeated Jaqueline Cristian 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3.
Collins had no problem beating Mertens, reaching the semifinals for the first time in three appearances at the Charleston Open.
PHOTO GEOFF BURKE, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
Danielle Collins
“I just stay focused and give it my all, that’s all there is to it,” said Collins, who announced this is her final year on tour. “I will try to continue as long as possible. Fingers crossed “.
On Saturday, Collins will face Maria Sakkari, who eliminated Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-4.