Cincinnati 2022: Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick | Western & Southern Open
Match Details
Fixture: (10) Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2022
Date: August 18, 2022
Round: Third Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Ohio, United States
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $2,527,250
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - Rogers Sportsnet, TSN | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula preview
10th seed Raducanu will take on seventh seed Jessica Pegula in the third round of the Western and Southern Open on Thursday.
The US Open champion has been under a lot of pressure since winning the women's singles title last year. The British No. 1 has struggled to find her form amid injuries and changing in coaching personnel.
However, Raducanu has shown some of her best tennis this week. In the first round of the event, she comfortably got past the 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in straight sets of 6-4, 6-0.
She continued her her form to the second round, where she once again showed no mercy in dispatching two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azerenka 6-0, 6-2.
Emma Raducanu beats two former #1s and ex-Cincy champs in less than 20 hours. With bagels.
R1: d. Serena Williams 6-4, 6-0
R2: d. Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2
Nice embrace at the net: https://t.co/y0uYnLObnw
Meanwhile, seventh seed Jessica Pegula has had one of her best seasons on the WTA tour this year. She reached the finals of the Canadian Open last week, losing to Simona Halep and winning the doubles title with Coco Gauff. She also reached the final in Madrid earlier this year, losing to Ons Jabeur.
After getting a bye in the opening round, she showed her experience in beating Marta Kostyuk 6-7(5-7) 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of Cincinnati.
Coco Gauff & Jessica Pegula's triumph in Toronto will see Gauff reach No. 1 in the world.
Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula head-to-head
This will be the first time that the two players will face each other on the WTA tour. The head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula odds
(All odds are sourced from betmgm)
Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula preview
Pegula will go into their encounter as a favorite. She has had a much better year so far compared to her opponent. The seventh seed has reached the latter stages of major tournaments regularly this season and has a win loss of 29-15 in 2022.
Raducanu, on the other hand, has struggled with her form throughout and is 13-14 in 2022 with no titles to her name. However, it looks like the Brit is playing her best tennis heading into the match against the home favorite.
Pegula's consistent game from the back and ability to close out the points in the net will give her an advantage over the US Open champion. She will have to ensure that she is able to handle Raducanu's counterattacking style of play and use her variety to her advantage to reach the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.
Pick: Pegula in straight sets.