American Jessica Pegula reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for the second straight season on Sunday, defeating No.5 seed Maria Sakkari 7-6(0), 6-3.
Second serve solidity proved the decisive factor as Pegula won 64 per cent of points behind her second delivery, but Sakkari could only manage in 34 per cent.
Sakkari went 5-3 down in the first set, and had to fend of a break point before pulling it back to 5-5 before the pair went to a tiebreak.
Pegula took control in the tiebreak racing to a 6-0 lead to take the first set.
Pegula saved two break points to hold for 2-1 and then powered on to 5-2 before Sakkari pulled game back.
The end was inevitable and Pegula will play the winner of the Ash Barty-Amanda Anisimova match for a place in the semi-finals.
“That definitely was the best match I’ve played this year, this tournament for sure,” Pegula said.
“I was glad I was able to bring it today … I thought I returned really well, I really from the start wanted to put a lot of pressure on her serve.
“I knew I had to just take my chances but also be patient.”
