Jessica PEGULA: “Svitolina plays a little more aggressively now”

The third racket of the world, Jessica Pegula, had this to say about the victory over Elina Svitolina in the third round of the US Open-2023:

“It seems to me that the first two sets were a lot of ups and downs on both sides. I think I played a little better in the first set, he played better in the second set. But that was an almost imperceptible difference. I don’t think we were playing at the highest level, but at the same time. so we had a hard time finding our rhythm.

I don’t know, in the third set I felt like I had found my welcome area, was able to put pressure on his serve and continued to serve very well. At the start of the third set, I was able to find the right momentum to get the audience moving and win the set.

– It seems Elina is playing a different, more aggressive tennis after her return. Is it harder to play with it now?

– Yes, I think he played a little more aggressively, probably using his forehand more. He still moves very well and still plays his game I think, but he’s also a bit more aggressive at some points.

It seems to me that it came back rested, perhaps a bit rebooted. The last few times I played with her before her baby was born, I think she looked a little miserable. So I don’t know, maybe her pregnancy was a good time to go back and start over. Sometimes that’s what you want and that’s what some players do. I think we see it in Wozniacki and other girls who have children. This is a good reboot.

He’s definitely playing a little more aggressively now, but at the same time he’s keeping to himself. This makes him a very difficult opponent because you realize that on the field you may have to do much more than before to win.