Pegula reaches Miami semi-final as Badosa retires after just 5 games

Miami Open 2022: Women’s Singles Draw | Results | Order of Play

The first career meeting between Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa was an abbreviated one, the American advancing after just five games as Badosa pulled out due to illness, trailing 4-1.

Badosa, despite the defeat, will rise to a career-high No 3 in the WTA rankings after reaching the semi-finals at Indian Wells and the last eight in Miami. The 24-year-hinted that she might be ailing after her round of 16 victory over Linda Fruhvirtova on Monday.

“Today was a very tough day for me,” she said after the match. “I didn’t wake up feeling very well so I didn’t know if I would be able to finish the match. I always say I want to be a fighter no matter what so that’s what I did today. I kept fighting and I don’t really know how I won.”

Pegula reaches her second WTA 1000 semi-final with Wednesday’s win. The 28-year-old American, ranked 21, also achieved the feat last year in Montreal.

Pegula has only needed to play 11 games in her last two rounds in Miami. She advanced past Anhelina Kalinina, 6-0, RET in the round of 16. She has dropped just 13 games en route to the last four.

She will face either Iga Swiatek or Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals.

Badosa – Illness was the reason for retirement

After the match Badosa took to social media to report that illness caused her to retire.

“So sorry I had to retire today,” she said. “Been struggling with illness since the last match the other day. Tried everything to recover but wasn’t enough. I’ll take some days to recover well and prepare for clay court season.”

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