Pegula steps back after busy stretch
Jessica Pegula will not play at next week's WTA 500 tournament in Singapore, withdrawing because of the toll taken by a recent run of matches. In a social media post this week, the American explained that the weeks she spent at the U.S. Open had been long and physically draining, and that she did not feel ready to return to competition at the standard she sets for herself.[S1]
The decision follows a strong period for Pegula, who has risen to third in the WTA rankings, the highest position of her career. She finished as runner-up in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, then reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open for a second consecutive year. Across the American hard-court swing she compiled a 15-4 record, and her 50 victories this season are the most on the WTA Tour.[S1]
Andreeva moves into top seeding
The Singapore event begins Monday. Pegula had been expected to enter as the top seed, but that position now goes to Mirra Andreeva, who is ranked fifth. The tournament's 28-player field also includes two other top-20 competitors, Amanda Anisimova and Alexandra Eala.[S1]
