Pegula Triumphs in Seoul, Fernandez Takes Hong Kong Title
Jessica Pegula secured her fourth career title with a dominant victory over Yuan Yue, defeating her 6-2, 6-3 in the Korea Open final. Pegula, the top seed, only dropped one set during the tournament, becoming the first American to win in Seoul since Venus Williams in 2007. Pegula, whose mother is Korean and has a special connection to the region, expressed her delight at the support she received from the fans.
In her first-ever career final, 128th-ranked Yuan Yue displayed remarkable composure, challenging Pegula early on. However, Pegula’s formidable baseline power helped her secure the first set and build a 3-0 lead in the second. Despite Yuan’s resurgence to 3-4, Pegula ultimately clinched her first title outside of North America.
Leylah Fernandez staged a comeback from a set down to triumph over Katerina Siniakova, securing a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the Hong Kong Open. This win marked Fernandez’s first title in 19 months, pushing her back into the top 50 in the rankings. Fernandez faced a shaky start but managed to build a 4-0 lead in the second set. Siniakova’s brief medical timeout didn’t deter Fernandez, who saved multiple break points before serving out the win after a hard-fought battle lasting 2 hours and 49 minutes.
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