Cincinnati Open 2024: Jessica Pegula vs Leylah Fernandez preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (6) Jessica Pegula vs Leylah Fernandez
Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Quarterfinals
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, U.S.
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $3,211,715
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Jessica Pegula vs Leylah Fernandez preview
Sixth seed Jessica Pegula will square off against Leylah Fernandez in a highly anticipated quarterfinal encounter at the 2024 Cincinnati Open on Saturday, August 17.
Pegula opened her campaign against Karolina Muchova in the second round after receiving a bye in the first round. She overcame a sluggish start and a one-set deficit to eventually seal an emphatic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Pegula then took on compatriot Taylor Townsend in the second round. She was utterly dominant in the first set, breaking serve twice and dominating most of the baseline exchanges. More of the same followed in the second, with Pegula rarely giving Townsend any sort of hope whatsoever. One break proved decisive for her as she went on to secure a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win.
Fernandez, meanwhile, opened her campaign against Yuan Yue in the first round. She too came back from one set down to seal a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. Up against fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the subsequent round, Fernandez played some of her best tennis so far this year en route to another comeback victory. Down and almost out at the end of the first set and during the second set tie-breaker, Fernandez heroically sealed a 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, victory.
Up against an in-form Diana Shnaider in the third round, Fernandez put on a clinic on serve and from the baseline en route to a splendid 6-1, 6-4 victory.
Jessica Pegula vs Leylah Fernandez head-to-head
Jessica Pegula edges Leylah Fernandez 1-0 in their head-to-head. They played earlier this year at the Miami Open with Pegula winning that encounter 7-5, 6-4.
Jessica Pegula vs Leylah Fernandez odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Jessica Pegula vs Leylah Fernandez prediction
Jessica Pegula and Leylah Fernandez head into their quarterfinal encounter on the back of relatively similar outings so far at the Cincinnati Open. Both players have been pushed the distance, Fernandez twice in fact. They also breezed through their previous encounters, which could quite likely mean they entered their upcoming contest fully fit.
Pegula has been in great form of late, having won the National Bank Open in Toronto last week. She was particularly brilliant in her previous encounter, winning an impressive 88% points behind her first serve and converting four out of five break point opportunities. She was also incredibly successful on the important points, leaving barely any margin for error.
Fernandez has also displayed moments of brilliance in Cincinnati so far this year. She's displayed a wide array of shots in her last match and also proved her worth at the net. Her serving has also improved drastically and could be a very potent weapon going forward.
Pegula enters this contest the favorite given her rich vein of form of late and better hardcourt record. Fernandez could, however, pose a threat if she does make early inroads on the return. We can expect an exciting match nonetheless, in what could be a battle from the baselines.
Pick: Pegula in straight sets.