By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday October 15, 2022
Iga Swiatek rallied from a set down to top Jessica Pegula in San Diego.
Photo Source: TTV
Iga Swiatek squandered a 4-2 lead in the first set against Jessica Pegula, and was forced to mull over what might have been during a lengthy rain delay on Saturday afternoon in San Diego.
True to form, she came back from the storm with a vengeance.
The 21-year-old World No.1 completed her tenth comeback from a set down in 2022 and won for the 11th consecutive time against a Top-10 player, finishing off Pegula, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
For the Pole it was just a question of keeping her composure and playing better during the tough moments.
“I just felt that I was more solid in those important moments because I was leading in the first set so I knew that I had the game to win this match,” said Swiatek. “So I just lost my focus in the middle of the set. I didn’t want to make that mistake again so I came back and I wanted to be really composed and just not lose in those important moments.”
The 21-year-old improved her percentage of second-service points won with every set and won all seven second-serve points she played in the final set.
She broke open a tight deciding set with Pegula after saving three break points to hold for 3-2. After securing that hold, Swiatek only dropped four points the rest of the way.
It was a step in the right direction for Pegula, despite the loss. The American had lost all six sets she had contested against Swiatek in 2022, in matches at Miami, Roland-Garros and the US Open.
Sixth-ranked Pegula drops to 1-4 lifetime against Swiatek, and 36-17 on the season.
Swiatek, who will face either Danielle Collins or Donna Vekic for the title on Sunday, reaches her ninth final of the season and she will bid for her eighth title of the season.
She improved to 63-8 overall on the season – her current title is the most since Angelique Kerber won 63 matches in 2016, and Swiatek is just one of five players to have won 60 or more matches in a single WTA season since 2010.