Fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula is set to face seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina in the WTA 1000 Dubai Open final on Saturday, February 21. But before the match, a controversy erupted online when the WTA posted a heavily photoshopped image of Pegula on social media, showcasing the two finalists of the Dubai Open, placed side by side.
In the post, Svitolina’s image looks natural, while Pegula’s waistline appears heavily photoshopped, and the 31-year-old American called out the WTA for it.
“WTF happened to my body 😂” Pegula commented on the Instagram post.
Pegula got the better of her compatriot Amanda Anisimova in the semifinal on Friday. The World No. 5 bounced back effectively after being overpowered by Anisimova in the first set, and won the next two in thrilling fashion to advance to the final. Pegula is now 5-0 against Anisimova, having also ousted her in the Australian Open quarterfinal last month.
Jessica Pegula Had a Positive Reflection on Her SF Win Over Amanda Anisimova at the Dubai Open
After beating a familiar foe, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula had nothing but respect for her Dubai Open semifinal opponent, saying that one has to come off the blocks from the onset against the 24-year-old American or risk getting overpowered by her. Pegula added that while she couldn’t get her game going in the first set, the positive change in mindset for the next two sets helped her beat Anisimova.
“At the start of the third, it was 1-1. I just looked at my coach, and I was like, ‘I’m just happy I’m still even here right now.’ She was playing some incredible tennis, and I just came out a little slow. And when you come out slow against Amanda, she can really just wipe you off the court, which is what she was doing,” Pegula said in the on-court interview.
“I held on to my serve there in the second set. I just kept telling myself that. I had some break points in the first set, even though it was convincingly the other way, and I knew I could get some break points back. That’s really all I was focusing on,” she added.
Pegula and Svitolina’s Dubai Open final on the center court is scheduled for Saturday, 10:00 a.m. EST.
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