Tradition held true as Magda Linette’s Cincinnati adventure with Jessica Pegula unfolded, with all three of their previous meetings also taking place in the United States. Whether the Polish player would break a pattern in their rivalry remained to be seen.
The match hadn’t even started when concerns began to mount. Linette, the 40th-ranked player in the world, looked to be in good form early, but a wobble in the first set raised questions about her durability. After she grimaced and crouched in pain following the fourth game, the crowd’s gaze dropped to her taped knee, then to coach Marek Gellard’s serious face.
Linette pressed on, and after 26 minutes she opened a 5-2 lead, earning praise for bold and effective play. Yet Pegula did not surrender. Linette’s level dipped at key moments, and the American reeled off several points to close the gap, forcing a tense finish. Linette briefly froze in another moment of discomfort, and a camera shot again zoomed in on her knee. In the 11th game, Linette made an uncharacteristic error, missing a straightforward point, but she steadied with strong serving to secure the set in a 7-5 tiebreak after about an hour.
Two weeks earlier in Montreal, Linette had fallen in the opening round to Anastasija Sevastova, who was ranked No. 386 at the time. This time, Linette had at last won a set against Pegula in Cincinnati.
The momentum shifted in the second set, with Pegula racing to a 3-0 lead, displaying the calm that has helped her reach the late stages of big events. The match was interrupted after the first game due to a smoky atmosphere around the VIP area, and then rain began to fall. The chair umpire inspected the court, and both players agreed to pause. Linette signaled her readiness to continue, but as the rain intensified, the match was halted for safety. When play would resume remained uncertain, and in the end the day’s sessions in Cincinnati were not continued.
Outlook and next steps
– In the 1/8 final, Linette or Pegula were set to meet Clara Tauson of Denmark or Veronika Kudermietova of Russia.
– On Wednesday, Iga Świątek was scheduled to face Sorana Cirstea in her bid to reach the quarterfinals.
Summary and context
Linette’s performance in Cincinnati offered a positive sign: she pushed Pegula to the limit, claimed her first set against the American, and showed resilience despite knee discomfort and weather-related disruption. The result kept Linette in the mix for a deep run, while Pegula demonstrated why she’s considered among the world’s best. The day’s weather drama added suspense, but the match underscored Linette’s growing fight at high-level events and set the stage for what should be an intriguing stretch as the tournament moves toward the business end.
Additional notes
– Linette’s progress against Pegula could be a confidence booster as she continues to chase strong results on U.S. hard courts.
– The Cincinnati weather drama is a reminder of how much factors beyond the players’ control can influence the outcome in a tournament setting.
– A potential match-up against Tauson or Kudermietova would present further test as Linette eyes a deeper run, while Świątek’s continued rhythm against Cirstea will be a key subplot for Polish players in the near term.
For readers: Linette’s breakthrough against Pegula and the ongoing Cincinnati storyline offer a hopeful tone for Polish tennis fans, as domestic players continue to compete closely with the tour’s elite.