The world number five Elina Svitolina will be up against American Jessica Pegula, ranked 61st in the fourth round of the 2021 Australian Open on Monday, February 15, with the match likely to begin at around 11 am local time (12 noon BST or 7 pm Eastern Time previous day). Get the live streaming options of this Elina Svitolina v Jessica Pegula match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Elina Svitolina v Jessica Pegula Head to Head
There has been one previous match between these two players and it came earlier this year itself in Abu Dhabi. Svitolina had won that encounter easily in straight sets.
Also Read:
Svitolina Shows Putintseva Who’s the Boss
A match that began with Putintseva twice putting herself in a position of great strength, ended up with Svitolina totally bossing the encounter. Like she has against Putintseva in the past as well.
Svitolina dropped her serve in the very first game of the opening set, and then again at 3-3 after after having levelled the scoreline. With Putintseva serving at 4-3 in that opening set, not too many would have anticipated what was to follow.
The world number five, who later admitted Putintseva’s style is very different from her previous two opponents and hence took her time to adapt, went on a roll once she had got a hang of it. From 3-4 down, Svitolina went on to win the remaining nine games in a row to finish off the match 6-4, 6-0 and end her opponent’s stay in the tournament.
This followed her wins over Marie Bouzkova and Cori Gauff in the first two rounds of the competition, two equally tricky opponents to start the proceedings. And both in straight sets too, giving her bit of an edge going into the second week of the competition.
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Pegula Continues to Push On after Opening Round Stunning
Typically after having shocked a high-ranked opponent in a particular round, the low-ranked victor finds it difficult to match up to the same intensity in the ensuing match and there have been enough instances of the player getting knocked out soon after.
Pegula had shocked Victoria Azarenka in the first round of the competition here in Melbourne, winning 7-5, 6-4 but that has only added to her confidence. What might have helped is Azarenka’s injury during that match made it a less intense encounter but whatever might be the case, Pegula hasn’t let her own intensity down after that.
The American, whose best performance at a Grand Slam before this was a third round at the US Open last season – having won just one match at a major before that – has now made it to the fourth round with emphatic wins over Samantha Stosur and Kristina Mladenovic, losing just four games across those four sets.
With form and confidence under her belt, Pegula will start the match knowing she has a chance to push her higher-ranked opponent.
Svitolina v Pegula Prediction and Tip
It might not be as straightforward as the odds on offer, with Pegula some of the best tennis of her career this tournament. If Svitolina doesn’t start quickly enough she might even face a very real possibility of a loss, and we reckon Pegula should be able to at least win a set here.
Tip: Pegula to win a set – Yes: 4/7 (bet365)
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The 2021 Australian Open will be played from February 8 to 21. You can watch & bet on the these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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