Pegula keeps her cool to deny Sabalenka

Jessica Pegula regrouped after losing a tiebreaker and denied Aryna Sabalenka the chance at a first final since March with a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-0 Saturday win into the final of the WTA Berlina event.

The American who had lost nine of a dozen previous matches to Sabalenka, handed the world No. 1 a love set after Sabalenka was eliminated in the Roland Garros quarter-finals this month with another “bagel.”

Pegula, ranked fourth in the world, said it is just in her nature to stay calm under pressure, which she did after dropping the tiebreaker to come roaring back to claim victory.

Sabalenka played her last final in Miami three months ago, winning that Masters title

“It was a high-level match< the winner said. “After losing that tiebreak I told myself that I had wanted to win it the hard way anyway.

“I’m pretty laid back and composed, I like to stay aware of the situation. I don’t get super-emotional. 

“When I was younger I thought I needed to yell and jump around more.”

The match was paused for nearly two and a half hours by rain in the German federal capital in the tiebreaker, with Pegula leading 3-1.

But Sabalenka managed to squeeze it out, winning six of seven points to square the semi-final.

Pegula unleashed in the final set, with Sabalenka netting on her opponent’s thrd match point.

“She tries to control the shots, doesn’t back down and plays fearlessly,” Pegula said of the WTA No. 1. “Every time we play, we bring out the best in each other.

“Our last matches have been very close.”