World number one
Aryna Sabalenka believes that she has a mental
toughness edge over America’s
Jessica Pegula in the final of the
Miami Open. The
27-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best players currently playing in
women’s tennis in the singles category, along with the likes of Poland’s Iga
Swiatek, defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the semifinal in straight sets
with a score of 6-2, 6-2.
On the other hand, Pegula cemented her spot in the last two after beating the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala with a score of 7-6, 5-7, 6-3. Talking
ahead of the final, Sabalenka was quoted in a report by The Tennis Gazette,
where she stated that the only advantage she can think of over Pegula is her
mental toughness. She also talked about the fact that both players had really exciting
encounters in the past and she is expecting the same in the final on Sunday.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t want to talk like that,
that I do something better than her. I don’t know – she is a great player. If
we think about serve or ground strokes or even volleys, everyone can play great
shots. I think it is all about the mental part of the game. Maybe mentally some
moments I am a bit tougher than her. But also you can’t say I am tougher than
her, that’s it. You have to bring that toughness every time. We have had a lot
of tough matches against each other. It’s always great battles. Cincinnati was
a great level from me probably but maybe not really from her And then finals
[US Open] was a crazy match again, she fought really hard in that second set
and it was a tough match. It’s always great battles and I’m always excited to
face her.”
It will be the ninth meeting between the two players in professional
tennis. In the previous eight meetings, Sabalenka had a clear edge, winning six times and suffering just two defeats.