Jessica Pegula Confesses She Wanted Anna Kalinskaya To Lose Ahead of DC Open Clash

After her grass-court season ended in disappointment against Coco Gauff at Wimbledon, Jessica Pegula has resumed her campaign on the hardcourts of North America to prepare for the US Open. The World No. 3, who is the top seed at the ongoing Mubadala DC Open, is chasing her second title at the tournament.

Through to the quarterfinals, Pegula faces a tough opponent in Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya on Friday, July 31.

Jessica Pegula Reacts to Upcoming DC Open Match With Anna Kalinskaya

After a first-round bye, Pegula began her run in Washington, D. C., with a comeback win against Magdalena Fręch on Thursday. After dropping the opening set 6-3, the American responded in kind by claiming the second set 6-3.

Fręch was no match for Pegula in the deciding set, as the American didn’t allow her opponent a single game and closed out the match with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 score. During her on-court interview, the she was notified that she had set up a last-eight meeting against Kalinskaya.

“Oh God,” she responded, unable to hide her emotions. The players have faced each other five times on Tour, with Jessica Pegula enjoying a rather comfortable 4-1 advantage. Their meetings, however, have been anything but straightforward. Every match has gone the distance, with little separating the two.

After beating Fręch, Pegula confessed that she was hoping not to face Kalinskaya for the sixth time. “I saw her score before I came out here, and I’m like, ‘Sorry, Anna, but I’m kind of hoping I wasn’t going to have to face you.’”

Kalinskaya, the fifth seed, cruised past Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 6-1 in the first round but was given a stern test by Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in her next match. The Russian lost her opening set 6-1 but mounted a comeback to clinch the next set 6-3. She took an early lead in the decider but surrendered her advantage and had to fend off two match points before completing a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) win.

Friday’s match will mark the second time Pegula and Anna Kalinskaya face off in Washington, D.C. Their first tour-level clash came in the semifinals of the tournament in 2019, where the former secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win en route to her first career title.

MORE: ‘Hasn’t Been Ideal’ – Jessica Pegula Gets Honest About DC Open Prep After Busy Stretch of Tennis Weddings

“We always, literally, play three sets. We always have crazy tough matches. We had a really tough match here in the semis before my first title. We played so many times that we just laugh. We’re like, ‘Oh, here we go again.’” Pegula said. “You’re in for a treat, I guess, is what I’m trying to say.”

Kalinskaya is defending her runner-up points from last year at the DC Open. She is on the hunt for her maiden Tour-level trophy. Meanwhile, Pegula is chasing her 12 title in the US capital.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.