Jessica Pegula Outlasts Amanda Anisimova in Three-Set Cincinnati Quarterfinal Thriller

Jessica Pegula edged out Amanda Anisimova in a thrilling all-American quarterfinal at the 2026 Cincinnati Open on Thursday evening. The world No. 3 claimed the match 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) after a grueling two hours and 14 minutes on the hard courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center.[1][2]

The scoreboard reflected exactly how evenly matched the two players were, with Pegula winning just one more point than Anisimova overall—95 to 94. The encounter featured wild momentum swings, breathtaking ball-striking, and a dramatic final-set tiebreak that pushed both women to their physical and mental limits.[1][2]

Pegula struck first, taking a tightly contested opening set 6-4. She capitalized on a brief lapse in Anisimova's otherwise solid service game, securing the only break needed to close out the set in 34 minutes.[3][5][7]

The second set, however, belonged entirely to Anisimova. The 24-year-old showcased her formidable power, racing to a 3-0 lead. Pegula appeared to struggle physically and took an off-court medical timeout for treatment on her hip and abdominal area.[6]

Despite Pegula's attempt to regroup, Anisimova maintained her aggressive baseline play. She converted all five of her break points in the match, including three in the second set, to level the contest with a commanding 6-2 frame. Anisimova's heavy hitting yielded 36 winners across the match, repeatedly putting Pegula on the defensive.[1][2][4]

The deciding set evolved into a rollercoaster of momentum. Pegula came out firing after a clothing change, breaking Anisimova twice to establish a 3-0 advantage. But Anisimova refused to quietly exit the tournament, clawing her way back into the match with a barrage of backhand winners.[3][5]

Anisimova erased a 5-3 deficit, breaking Pegula when the world No. 3 served for the match at 5-4. The younger American then held serve to take a 6-5 lead, forcing Pegula to dig deep just to stay in the contest and force a decisive tiebreak.[5][7]

In the tiebreak, Pegula's experience and tactical discipline shone through. Trailing 3-4, she shrewdly targeted Anisimova's forehand, drawing four consecutive errors from her opponent. A pulsating 27-shot rally on the sixth point highlighted the tension, but Pegula ultimately held her nerve to win the tiebreak 7-4.[3][7]

"Amanda is an amazing player, an amazing ball striker," Pegula said during her on-court interview. "I know that I have a good record against her, but literally every single match is like it was today. So I know that I have to try and survive."[4][6]

The victory improved Pegula's perfect head-to-head record against Anisimova to 6-0, with three of those wins coming this season at the Australian Open, Dubai, and now Cincinnati. It also marked Pegula's tour-leading 44th match win of 2026 and secured her seventh semifinal appearance of the year.[2][3][6]

For Anisimova, the loss was accompanied by 56 unforced errors, a byproduct of her high-risk, high-reward playing style. Nevertheless, her run to the quarterfinals—her best-ever result in Cincinnati—signals a strong return to form ahead of the US Open.[2][5]

Pegula now advances to face the winner of the quarterfinal clash between seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek and second-seeded Elena Rybakina. As the highest remaining seed in her half of the draw, Pegula remains a formidable contender for the Cincinnati crown.[2][3]