Pegula survives Anisimova to reach Cincinnati Open semifinal

Jessica Pegula of the United States hugs Amanda Anisimova of the United States after a match on day ten of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 20, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP 

CINCINNATI–Jessica Pegula defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in the Cincinnati Open on Friday and will face Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.

Sixth-seeded Anisimova converted all five of her break points against Pegula, breaking her three times in the second set, before the world number three rebounded to win.

Pegula is setting WTA records at age 32. She is the fourth player since 2009 to reach five or more Masters 1000 quarter-finals after turning 30, along with Li Na, Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Pegula needed just 34 minutes to pocket the opening set.

But Anisimova struck back in the second, earning a double break for 4-0.

After Anisimova squared the match at one-set each, Pegula regrouped with an opening break in the deciding set.

They would each be broken twice as they went to the tiebreaker, where Pegula sealed the win on her first match point.

Pegula’s win was her sixth without a loss to Anisimova.

“I know I have a good record against her, but literally every single match is like it was today,” she said.