Doha Qatar TotalEnergies Open Quarterfinal Preview
Pegula is ranked 21 spots higher than Alexandrova—No. 5 to No. 26. But on this day it’s tempting to make the Russian the favorite. At 30, she’s playing some of the best sustained tennis of her career. Two weeks ago, she won a title in Linz. Two days ago, she beat No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a third-set tiebreaker. And almost as impressively, she followed that up 24 hours later with a win over Elise Mertens. Alexandrova has reached that rare and enviable state where you feel like you can’t lose.
How long can she stay in the zone, and keep weariness at bay?
Pegula and Alexandrova are the same age, and have been on tour together for more than a decade, but they’ve played just twice. Pegula won their first match, while Alexandrova won in three sets last spring in Miami. Both hit flat, drive the ball deep, attack and absorb pace with their two-handed backhands, and like to return as much, or more, than they like to serve.—Steve Tignor
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