Jessica Pegula demonstrated once again that dropping the opening set does not derail her. The world number four came from behind to defeat Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the fourth round at Wimbledon, booking her place in the quarter-finals.
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The eighteen-year-old American produced an impressive first set, breaking Pegula's serve twice to claim it 6-4. Playing aggressive, fearless tennis, Jovic looked capable of extending the run that had brought her to the last sixteen.
Pegula shifted gears from the second set onwards. Hitting deeper and returning with greater precision, she smothered Jovic's power by working her from corner to corner. Eight breaks from seventeen opportunities reflected the relentless pressure on Jovic's serve. The fourth seed struck twenty-one winners overall, the majority coming in the final two sets.
The match completed an unprecedented trilogy between the two players, having met previously on clay and hard courts. Pegula has won all three encounters, underlining her ability to adapt across surfaces.
At thirty-two, Pegula reaches the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the second time in her career, the first since 2023. Her consistency at the highest level this season makes her a genuine contender for the title.
