Sawt Falasteen - Anisimova primed to snap win drought against Pegula in Melbourne clash

The fourth seed punched her ticket to her first last-eight clash in Melbourne by sweeping past China's unseeded Wang Xinyu 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Sixth seed Pegula booked her place by disposing of defending champion Madison Keys also in straight sets.

Anisimova, 24, and Pegula, 31, have met three times before, with Pegula winning them all.

"We've always had some great matches. I mean, she's such a great player. I really like her game," said Anisimova.

"I'm sure it's going to be a tough battle again. We always really go for our shots when we play against each other. I feel like we always have really long rallies."

Asked how she could finally beat her, she replied: "I know her game pretty well now.

"I feel like I always have a chance against anyone. It's (the record) not really in my head, I feel like every match is new and different.

"I think the fact that I've never beaten her before is an extra challenge for me."

Anisimova enjoyed a breakout year in 2025, reaching finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, losing to Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka respectively.

Should she get past Pegula, Swiatek is a potential last-four opponent.

There was little to split her and Wang in the early stages, staying on serve until the American finally worked the first break point at 3-2.

But Wang saved and served out to keep it level-pegging.

Anisimova was slowly gaining the ascendancy and after a hold to love she made her move as Wang was serving to stay alive, earning a set point.

But again the Chinese player snuffed out the threat to take it to a tight tiebreak, where Anisimova muscled her way through with some searing groundstrokes.

Neither player dropped serve in set one but there were three breaks to start the next set, with Anisimova snaring two of them before Wang had a medical timeout.

Wang seemingly gestured towards her groin when she called the physio and returned with heavy strapping on her upper right leg.

Despite showing no obvious discomfort, she couldn't find a way to claw back into the contest and Anisimova calmly completed the job with an ace.

Y.AlMasri--SF-PST