Jessica PEGULA (USA) plays Kristina MLADENOVIC (FRA) on John Cain Arena during Day 6 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Saturday, February 13, 2021. MANDATORY PHOTO CREDIT Tennis Australia/ MORGAN HANCOCK
No. 61 ranked Jessica Pegula made it to week two of the Australian Open today, with a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of Kristina Mladenovic.
Pegula is no stranger to pro sport – her parents Terry and Kim Pegula own the NFL Buffalo Bills and NHL Sabres.
With no fans in attendance Pegula dominated her French opponent after a shaky start, hitting 21 winners to only 13 unforced errors, but said after the match there were plenty watching back home in upstate New York, and in Florida where she trains.
“Some in Buffalo, some in Florida — everyone is watching back home and cheering for me,” she said.
Pegula, 26, beat two-time Australian champion Victoria Azarenka in the first round, and has only dropped four games in the past two rounds of this year’s event.
She will face a stiffer test next week against No. 5-seeded Elina Svitolina, who beat No. 26 Yulia Putintseva, 6-4, 6-0.
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