Miami Open 2024: Jessica Pegula vs Ekaterina Alexandrova; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Ekaterina Alexandrova is currently in ‘giant-killing’ mode. She recently defeated the world number 1, Iga Swiatek to make it into the QF of the 2024 Miami Open. In the quarterfinals, she is all set to take on the world number 5, Jessica Pegula at the Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday. Will the fans witness yet another shocking exit of a Top 10 player from the tournament this year?

Pegula is currently the highest-ranked American left in the tournament. Alexandrova, on the other hand, might be ecstatic with her recent victory against Swiatek, but she doesn’t have much time to celebrate the historic feat in her career. With this victory, she ended Iga Swiatek’s quest for a second sweep of the Sunshine Doubles. What waits ahead of Jessica Pegula?

Jessica Pegula vs Ekaterina Alexandrova: Preview

Jessica Pegula has had a decent run so far this season. She reached the SF of her first tournament this year in Adelaide and then faced a second-round exit at the 2024 AO. But she made a comeback in San Diego and reached the SF over there. Pegula then lost her first match at the Indian Wells, however, she looks in good form in Miami. Recently, she defeated her compatriot Emma Navarro by 7-6 (1),6-3 in the R16 clash.

Ekaterina Alexandrova, however, didn’t have a great start in 2024. She lost her first match of the season in Brisbane but made a comeback in Adelaide by reaching the SF. In the AO, she faced an early exit, but in her next tournament (Linz Open) she made it to the finals. Alexandrova’s Middle East tour, moreover, didn’t go the way she would have wanted, but her performance in Miami has been top-notch so far.

Pegula vs Alexandrova: Head-to-Head

Both of them have faced each other only once on the Tour. It was at the 2021 Italian Open where Jessica Pegula outclassed Ekaterina Alexandrova comfortably by a 6-2, 6-4 margin. However, both the players have reached the QF here in Miami for a second consecutive year.

Talking about their playing styles,  Jessica Pegula was seen switching her tactics frequently in her previous game against Emma Navarro. It kept her opponent guessing her next step, eventually frustrating Navarro. Will she do the same against the Russian player? Ekaterina Alexandrova has enormous potential to rule out all the equations, but consistency has been a major issue in her career over the years.

Despite Pegula leading the H2H, it needs to be mentioned that these two tennis stars have never met each other in any hard-court tournaments before this. So, playing conditions can also play a huge role in this faceoff.

However, Miami has been a happy hunting ground for the 30-year-old American tennis star. Notably, Pegula has a record of 13-4 and has reached the SF in the last two years in Miami. Can she repeat it for a third time in a row?

Prediction: Jessica Pegula to win in straight sets

Ekaterina Alexandrova reached the QF last year and has a 8-4 record in Miami. She could manage only 11 victories in her last 18 matches this season. Pegula, meanwhile, has played only 12 matches this season and has won 8 of them. She has a win-loss record of 9-4 this season and 7 of her last fixtures have ended in victory. Notably, Ekaterina Alexandrova has never reached beyond the QF in this tournament and 6 out of her 7 defeats have come on hard courts.

Taking these factors into consideration, Pegula looks to be the favorite in this contest. Having said that, one never knows what the 29YO Russian tennis star has in mind. What’s your prediction for this match?

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