The Wimbledon season is on and the hunt for the ultimate grasscourt glory is on. Coming into the tournament, players will be determined to give their all and stand a chance to touch the title with their bare hands. One of those stars is Jessica Pegula. Having made her way onto the tennis courts after injury, she did not waste any time and found her momentum straightaway. Coming into Wimbledon, she will be looking to give her everything.
However, her journey to the final won’t be easy at all. Standing her way in the first round itself is fellow compatriot Ashlyn Krueger. With the stage set for an all-American encounter, only one among the two stars will get into round 2. But, who will it be?
Ashlyn Krueger vs Jessica Pegula: Preview
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Currently ranked number 5th in the world, Jessica Pegula enters Wimbledon with a record of 19 wins and 8 losses in 2024, including 5 victories on grass courts. Her season’s standout moment came at the Berlin Open, where she came out on top of Anna Kalinskaya in a thrilling final, showcasing her resilience after returning from a back and neck injury earlier in the year.
Despite a recent setback at the Rothesay International against Emma Raducanu in the quarter-final, Pegula remains a formidable force known for her powerful game and ability to compete at the highest level. In a complete neck-to-neck match it was the British star wo made her way into the semis of the tournament with a close win. The final scoreline of the match remained 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 in favor of the Brit.
On the other hand, her opponent, Ashlyn Krueger, ranked 75th in the world, heads into Wimbledon after a recent loss to Leylah Fernandez in Eastbourne. Her 2024 record stands at 17 wins and 17 losses, with 4 wins on grass courts. Krueger began her Grasscourt Swing at the Rothesay Open in Nottingham, where she started strong with a straight-sets victory over Wang Yafan before falling to Francesca Jones in the next round.
1, 2, 3, 4…
Four points.
That’s all it took for Francesca Jones to complete her rain-postponed match against Ashlyn Krueger.
Serving for the match at 6-5, 30-all in the 3rd set when play was stopped yesterday, Jones fights off a break point before winning, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. pic.twitter.com/09eiHdP0t2
— Tick Tock Tennis (@TickTockTennis) June 14, 2024
Moving on to the Rothesay International in Eastbourne, Krueger made her way through qualifiers with wins over Eden Silva and Ella McDonald. She impressed with a first-round victory against Viktorija Golubic but faced a tough defeat to Leylah Fernandez in the following round. As she prepares for Wimbledon, Krueger aims to build on her performances and make an impact in the tournament.
Krueger vs Pegula: Head-to-head
When it comes to the head-to-head stats between the two players, Jessica Pegula has the slightest of advantages over her compatriot. The only time when the two stars came head-to-head was back in 2023 at the Seoul Open. Pegula came out on top in the match and has since then managed to maintain a 1-0 head-to-head lead.
The only time when the two stars locked horns was back in Korea last year. However, the match was a cakewalk for Jessica Pegula who came out on top with a straight set win over her opponent. The final scoreline of the match was 6-3, 6-1 in favor of the American star.
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Thus, while Krueger will be looking to equal the head-to-head scores, Jessica Pegula will be desperate to get her hands on yet another win between the two. That being said, who among the two looks in a hot spot to clinch the win?
Prediction: Jessica Pegula could clinch the win and make her way into the next round
The two American stars will produce a great encounter amongst each other. However, coming into the match, Jessica Pegula will be a clear favorite. Coming after her injury and acheiving title straightaway in Berlin will give her some much needed confidence coming into the match. Also, having already secured a win when the two met earlier will boost her confidence.
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USA Today via Reuters
Oct 10, 2021; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Jessica Pegula (USA) hits a shot against Jasmine Paolini (ITA) at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports| Courtesy: Reuters
However, Krueger, desperate to get her hands on the win will do whatever it takes to give Pegula the taste of defeat. Thus, with the stage set for a thrilling encounter, who are you backing to come out on top? Do let us know about your thoughts in the comments below!