Pegula stunned by Alexandrova in Stuttgart quarter-finals

Third seed Jessica Pegula was upended in the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open on Saturday as she was beaten 6-0, 6-4 by Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia at the Porsche-Arena.

The American, who reached the final last month in Miami and won her first clay title in Charleston last time out, saved three match points at 5-2 down in the second set and two more at 5-4 but couldn’t stave off defeat.

Alexandrova, who beat Mirra Andreeva in the previous round, will take on either Iga Swiatek or Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals.

The Russian won against Liudmila Samsonova (6-3, 6-3) and sixth seed Mirra Andreeva (6-3, 6-2) ahead of her victory.

In the previous round, Pegula, ranked No 3, won against Pole Magdalena Frech (6-1, 6-1).

Stuttgart WTA 500, other quarter-final results (Porsche-Arena, clay, EUR 925.661, most recent results first):

• Coco Gauff vs. Jasmine Paolini
• Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens
• Jelena Ostapenko vs. Iga Swiatek