Poland’s Magda Linette, seeded 31st, achieved an impressive victory over the fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula with a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 win in the third round of the Cincinnati Open on Wednesday in Mason, Ohio. The match, which began on Tuesday but was suspended due to bad weather, resumed Wednesday afternoon to start the decisive third set.
Linette broke Pegula’s serve while leading 4-3 in the final set and maintained her advantage to secure the match, moving into the Round of 16. This marked Linette’s first win against Pegula in their fourth career meeting, as well as the first time she managed to take a set from the American.
Linette Reflects on Breakthrough Victory
After the match, Linette expressed the significance of overcoming a difficult rival. She said,
“It feels so good. I had so many tough matches on this court, I lost so many three-setters. I never really got close to getting a set off her before. To me, it means so much.”
—Magda Linette
She also praised Pegula’s skill and spirit, adding,
“She’s such an unbelievable ballstriker and competitor. Unbelievable person off the court. I just feel this day is really special that I got the chance to beat her.”
—Magda Linette
Pegula’s Recent Tournament Struggles
Pegula, who reached her first Grand Slam final at last year’s U.S. Open, has faced challenges in recent tournaments leading up to this year’s U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 24. She was eliminated in the Round of 32 at both the National Bank Open in Montreal and the Cincinnati Open, delaying her preparation for the upcoming Grand Slam event.
Other Notable Results in Cincinnati
Third seed Iga Swiatek from Poland secured a straight-sets victory against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, winning 6-4, 6-3 to become the first player guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals. She awaits the winner of a later match between Russians Ekaterina Alexandrova, seeded 12th, and Anna Kalinskaya, seeded 28th.
Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova upset Denmark’s 16th seed Clara Tauson in a tightly contested match, prevailing 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Kudermetova demonstrated strong serving in the third set, facing no break points and conceding only three service points.
In evening matches, sixth seed Madison Keys of the U.S. was set to compete against No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the top seed Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus faced Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain, and the anticipated Alexandrova-Kalinskaya clash was scheduled.
Implications for the Tournament’s Next Phase
Linette’s upset over Pegula highlights the unpredictable nature of the Cincinnati Open as players prepare for the U.S. Open. With several strong contenders already securing spots in the later rounds, the competition intensifies as the field narrows. Pegula’s early exit may shift the dynamic among top seeds, while Linette’s breakthrough can boost her confidence moving forward. Fans can expect further exciting matchups as the tournament progresses.