Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Pegula Powers Through Miami as Serve Overhaul Pays Off

A faster, skidding surface plus a refined service motion are fueling a clean run in Miami with a possible jump to No. 4.

Overview

  • Jessica Pegula beat Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, dropping just four games, to reach the Round of 16 against Jaqueline Cristian.
  • She has not lost a set at the Miami Open, citing improved serving as a key factor in her dominance so far.
  • Pegula said Miami’s quicker, lower-skidding courts suit her aggressive style compared with the slower conditions she faced at Indian Wells.
  • She reports multi-year adjustments to her serve mechanics—including motion, grip, and toss—after starting with new coaches, contributing to a surge in aces that ranks among the tour’s best.
  • Her 2026 record stands at 18–3 with a Dubai WTA 1000 title, her only losses to Elena Rybakina (twice) and Marta Kostyuk, and a Miami title would give her a chance to rise to No. 4.