Jessica Pegula beat Iryna Shymanovich 6-0 6-3 to reach the Round of 16 at the Credit One Charleston Open a few days after finishing runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka at the Miami Open.
Pegula won the first eight games with four breaks of serve to build up a 6-0 2-0 lead. Shymanovich broke straight back in the third game. Pegula earned his second break in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Shymanoovich pulled back on serve for the second time for 3-4. Pegula earned her third break at deuce in the eighth game and sealed the win on his first match point.
Pegula is aiming to reach her fourth quarter final in her last six tournaments.
“Up a set, 2-0, I wish I would’ve held for 3-0, didn’t happen. I felt like she really picked up her level, going down the line a lot, ripping her shots, and playing with nothing to lose. I expected that to happen at some point but I’m glad I was able to hold on in the second”, said Pegula.
Pegula set up a Round of 16 match against Ajla Tomljanovic. Pegula beat her Australian opponent en route to winning in Austin earlier this year.
Ashlyn Krueger beat Katie Volynets 6-3 7-6 (7-4). Krueger won the doubles title in Charleston with Sloane Stephens last year. Krueger earned a break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead and held on her next service games to seal the first set 6-3. Krueger went up a break twice, but Volynets pulled back on serve both times. Krueger earned three mini-breaks to race out to a 6-1 lead. Volynets saved three match points, but Krueger sealed the tie-break 7-4.
Sofia Kenin cruised past Belinda Bencic 6-0 6-3. Kenin earned three breaks to take a bagel win in the first set. Bencic converted her fourth break point to take a 3-1 lead in the second set. Kenin broke twice in the sixth and eighth games and served out the win on her third match point. Kenin will face Daria Kasatkina, who won her first match under the Australian flag beating Lauren Davis 6-1 6-1.
