Jessica Pegula advanced to the DC Open semifinals with a dominant 6-3, 7-5 victory over Anna Kalinskaya on Friday in Washington. On the men's side, four Americans earned quarterfinal berths, confirming local dominance at the capital city's premier tennis event.
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Pegula ends the Kalinskaya streak
The top seed took control of the match from the opening set. Pegula won 78.1% of her first-serve points, giving the Russian no room to breathe. Kalinskaya, the fifth seed, had pulled off a heroic comeback in the previous round, rallying from a set down against Janice Tjen to win 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) in a tense tiebreak.
It was the sixth career meeting between the two players, and all five previous encounters had gone to three sets. This time, Pegula refused to let the drama build. The American will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Diana Shnaider and Liudmila Samsonova in the semifinals.
Shelton rallies past Humbert in three-set thriller
In the men's draw, Ben Shelton produced the most dramatic match of the day. Trailing by a set after losing the tiebreak 7-6(3) to Ugo Humbert, the second-seeded American turned the match around to win 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4. Shelton won 70.4% of his service points while conceding just one break from six opportunities, despite landing only 62.2% of first serves. The American will face Chile's Alejandro Tabilo in the quarterfinals. Tabilo dispatched France's Terence Atmane in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(6).
De Minaur makes quick work of Hewitt junior
Australian Alex de Minaur, the top seed, made quick work of Cruz Hewitt with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in an all-Australian clash loaded with symbolism. The 17-year-old qualifier and son of two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt acquitted himself well on his first appearance at this level, but the experience gap proved too wide. De Minaur has not dropped a set since the tournament began and will next face Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals. The American earned the tightest win of the day, edging seventh seed Jakub Mensik 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4.
Four Americans in the quarterfinals, a rare feat in Washington
The presence of Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Alex Michelsen and Nakashima in the men's quarterfinals highlights the depth of American tennis on fast surfaces. Fritz, the third seed, will face Michelsen in an all-American quarterfinal showdown. Washington traditionally serves as a springboard for the summer hard-court swing, and with the US Open just six weeks away, performances at the DC Open carry particular significance for players who will compete in front of home crowds in New York.
Day 5 key numbers
Pegula won 14 consecutive games spanning the end of her match against Magdalena Frech, where she won 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the previous round, and the second set against Kalinskaya. Shelton now has 26 wins this season on the main tour. De Minaur has not dropped a set since the start of the Washington tournament.
