American Jessica Pegula has shocked fifth seed Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to make her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Ranked at No. 61 Pegula took out former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in an earlier round and was in solid form again against the Ukrainian, who had previously beaten her in Abu Dhabi last month.
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/23714-1024x683.jpg)
But Pegula took the initiative in this fourth round clash, creating three break points and a double fault that gave her a 4-3 lead in the opening set.
She held serve to consolidate the advantage and take an early lead.
The pair traded breaks in the second set before Svitolina broke away at 3-1 as Pegula lost her way.
Three years ago Pegula considered retirement after a hip operation, but there was little sign of any discomfort in the deciding set as she got a break in the fourth game with a backhand volley and then finished off her opponent after Svitolina had temporarily got back into the game at 4-3, to take the match.
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/23711-1024x683.jpg)
“I really admire how she is on the court, she just puts her head down and goes about her business and really always fights, so that’s something I tried to do today,” Pegula said of Svitolina.
“I think with the nerves and the end of the first set being tough, I got a little tired. But I feel good now.”
Pegula will play either fellow American Jennifer Brady or Croat Donna Vekic in the quarters.