Transcript: Jessica Pegula def. Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5

Jessica Pegula def. Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5

Semifinals

MODERATOR: Jess, congratulations. You’re through to the final. How are you feeling?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. Good. Obviously a long match, tough match, but happy to be here and saying that I’m going to the final. So all good.

It seemed like you really had to go deep in your bag today to pull that one out.

JESSICA PEGULA: Definitely. It’s been the same kind of story line in the past when I played her; played good first set, she comes back in the second, and then usually I tend to lose the third. So glad I was able to flip that script today. But, yeah, it was just kind of a crafty match today. I mean, the conditions were really tough. It was super windy, especially on that one side, and it was a lot of uncomfortable shots, footwork, just awkward kind of situations. So it was hard to kind of balance yourself with playing aggressive but also playing with some margin with the wind, and, yeah.

Like you said, though, you knew what you were in for; right?

JESSICA PEGULA: Uh-huh.

You knew kind of your game plan going in, but she makes it tough to pull off?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. She’s really good. She’s a really good player. I mean, there’s a reason she beats a lot of players. She can play at a really high level. Her game is tough to play against, the way she strikes the ball, when she serving well, returning well. So I thought there was a couple of things I did differently today that helped me get through the match compared to maybe a few of the past times I’ve lost to her. So I’m glad I was able to kind of do that, and, yeah, kind of turn the tables there at the end.

It seemed like you were changing up pace a good bit and spinning in some serves.

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. It’s weird. You hit a good serve, and she hits a better return. She kind of likes it right in the slot. And you don’t want to totally go away from that because you want to go after your serve and hit it, but we kind of talked about, hey, like if you have to change up your serve, just do it just to keep her off balance, because when she rips that return, you know, the faster you hit a serve, the faster it comes back, which is just a tougher shot to hit right away. So I think at times I either got a free point or it just got me a chance to get into the point instead of hitting a good first serve and her sitting on it and kind of just ripping a fast ball right at me and then all of a sudden I’m on the defense. So I think that was something that helped a little bit today.

Jessica, obviously Kenin now has a pretty short match today. You had a three-setter, plus that Miami run. Are you tired or how do you offset that?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. I mean, of course, I’m tired. I was tired yesterday. I actually felt worse yesterday. I actually feel like okay. Obviously the tank is running a little bit low just emotionally and physically over the long three weeks that I’ve been playing a lot of tennis. But, I mean, I’m happy to be in the final. Going to go out there and do the best I can, rest a lot for the rest of the day and go out there and, yeah, try to play my best tennis. I mean, it’s I guess nice that she didn’t have to play a full match at the same time. But, yeah, it is what it is. I can figure it out.

Just talk about the challenge that Sofia — you guys have played five times?

JESSICA PEGULA: Uh-huh.

I think you are up by one on that, and I think the US Open maybe last year was the last time you guys played?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. She’s really tough. She’s another really tough matchup for me. She kind of hits that flat ball, can kind of take it really early, use your pace.
And I know she hasn’t been at her top level for a little while, but we all know she can still play like that when she wants to, and clearly this week she’s been playing really well. So it’s going to be, I think, another one where I’m going to have to try and use some variety, try and mix it up a little bit when I need to, but still try and go after my shots and play my game.

I’ll kind of look back maybe at the US Open and see what I was doing well there. But, again, it’s a tough matchup for sure.

She’s kind of flown under the radar, would you say, since her big breakout obviously at the Australian Open?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. I mean, yeah, she won a Grand Slam and hasn’t really quite had the results that she’s probably wanted since then. But she still pops in and beats good people and can always be really tough with her game. Like I said, takes it early. It’s uncomfortable to play against. Honestly, very similar, kind of, to today. And she doesn’t really give you a lot emotionally. She kind of just walks side to side, stays in her own little bubble, does her thing whether she’s winning or losing. So that can be also hard to kind of gauge when you’re playing her, which makes it difficult.

The crowd really got behind you at some big points today. Did it make a difference for you?

JESSICA PEGULA: I think so. Yeah. I mean, I’m one that, like, I can’t get too emotionally like into a match because it really drains me. I’m just not one of those people. I think that’s why I’m not fist pumping to the crowd. If I ever did that, I’d be like zapped of energy. So it’s one of the reasons I can’t be like that. But I could definitely feel their presence and feel their energy and using it just to stay focused and to not let myself get frustrated or overly frustrated if something wasn’t going my way. So that’s kind of how I was trying to use their energy. But, of course, it’s amazing always to hear that crowd in big moments. I mean, I felt it — I feel it every year here, but it was extra special today.

End of Interview