WTA stars Jessica Pegula and Anna Kalinskaya meet Friday in the 2026 DC Open quarterfinals. If history holds, they'll need three sets to settle it — after their first five meetings all demanded an extra battle.
Pegula earned her spot the hard way on Thursday.
Jessica Pegula Rallies Past Magdalena Frech to Book DC Open Quarterfinals
The world No. 3 lost her Round of 16 opener to Magdalena Frech, then stormed through the final two sets for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory. Early on, just 36% of her first serves landed. But she corrected course down the stretch, piling up 42 winners and conceding zero games in the third.
Kalinskaya's route was even bumpier.
She trailed by a set and stood two points from elimination against Janice Tjen before clawing out a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) escape. Washington has long been one of her best WTA Tour stops, making last year's final before falling to Leylah Fernandez.
Still, Pegula owns a 4-1 edge in their rivalry.
Pegula, Kalinskaya Add to Head-to-Head Record in Washington
"We literally always play three sets," Pegula said. "We had a really tough match here in the semis when I won my first title, and we've played so many times that we just laugh. We're like, oh, here we go again."
"So you're in for a treat, I guess, is what I'm trying to say," she teased.
For Kalinskaya, still seeking a first WTA Tour singles title, another deep run in at the Washington Open could be the breakthrough she needs.
The pair's match is scheduled for 12 PM ET.
