Magda Linette clinched one of her biggest wins of the season by overcoming No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula in Cincinnati, but she made sure to keep it as classy as possible toward the home star.
After starting their match on Tuesday and seeing it suspended at one set apiece due to rain and thunderstorms, Linette and Pegula returned to the court on Wednesday to finish their match. The Pole, who lost the second set, found herself in immediate danger of falling down by a break in the third set but avoided it by saving two consecutive break points in the opening game. Six games later, the world No. 40 saved another break point before claiming the key break - opening a 5-3 lead - and serving out for a 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-3 third-round win.
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Prior to their Cincinnati meeting, Linette and Pegula clashed three times. In each of those meetings, the American registered a straight-set win - including a dominant 6-4 6-2 triumph in Cincinnati earlier this year.
Linette hails Pegula as 'an unbelievable player and person'
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. Shes such an unbelievable ball striker and competitor. Unbelievable person off the court. I just feel this day is really special that I got the chance to beat her," the Pole said of the home player she bounced in Cincinnati.
In the Cincinnati round-of-16, Linette will take on 36th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova. Earlier this year, their first meeting came at the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai and the Pole came back to win 3-6 6-0 6-4. Now, they are set to clash against each other on a hard surface again.
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If Linette wins, she will make her second WTA 1000 quarterfinal of the year.
