Ekaterina Alexandrova continued her giant-killing run at the Miami Open, stunning world No. 5 Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals.
Alexandrova, ranked 14th, had already upset world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the previous round. Against Pegula, she struggled initially but gradually gained control, using her powerful groundstrokes to dictate the rallies.
Pegula, known for her consistent serve and solid baseline play, struggled to find her rhythm against Alexandrova’s aggressive style. The Russian broke Pegula’s serve twice in the second set to level the match.
In the deciding set, Alexandrova’s relentless pressure forced Pegula into errors. The American fought back to break Alexandrova’s serve once, but the Russian broke back immediately and held on to serve out the match.
Alexandrova’s victory marks her first win over a Top 10 opponent from a set down. It also extends her impressive run at the Miami Open, where she has now reached the semifinals for the first time.
Danielle Collins, the former Australian Open runner-up, will be Alexandrova’s opponent in the semifinals. Collins defeated Caroline Garcia in straight sets to reach the last four.
Alexandrova’s success in Miami is a testament to her hard work and determination. The 29-year-old has been working on improving her physicality and shot accuracy, and it is paying off.
She will now face a tough challenge against Collins, who is in excellent form. But Alexandrova has shown that she is capable of beating the best in the world, and she will be confident of reaching her first WTA 1000 final.
