Jessica Pegula vs Linda Nosková

WTA Eastbourne – Semifinal Preview

Jessica Pegula vs Linda Nosková

Date: 27 June 2025 | Time: 14:30 CEST
Surface: Grass | Location: Eastbourne

🧠 Form & Context

Jessica Pegula
🔋 Quick course correction: Rebounded from a clay slump with a 2–0 grass start—beating Siniaková and Navarro.
🏆 Semifinal killer: Riding an 8-match winning streak in tour SFs; hasn’t lost one since early 2024.
🌱 Proven on lawns: Only second career grass SF, but won Berlin in 2023; owns a solid 31–22 record on grass.
🔑 Blueprint: Precise depth off both wings, elite backhand return numbers, and clutch under scoreboard pressure.

Linda Nosková
🚀 Grass breakthrough: 5–1 this swing; into her first grass SF after beating Tomljanović, Vekić, and Andreeva—all without losing serve.
🎯 Big-match chops: Two top-10 wins in 2025, including Pegula in Dubai—knows how to rise on big stages.
📈 Serve + forehand pop: Uses her height (179 cm) to generate power and finish with short forehands.
🧠 Learning curve: 3–4 in WTA semifinals (0–1 this year), still seeking first title away from hard courts.

🔍 Match Breakdown

First-strike battle: Pegula’s placement and consistency vs Nosková’s bigger, more volatile serve. If Pegula keeps returns deep and low, she can control tempo.

Backhand duel: Pegula’s up-the-line backhand sets the tone in neutral exchanges. Nosková’s can be explosive, but rushed swings result in unforced errors.

Court positioning: Pegula stays tight to the baseline; Nosková plays a step behind. Grass favors the player who wins the middle third.

Psychology: Nosková leads H2H 1–0 (Dubai), but Pegula hasn’t lost a semifinal since. Expect early urgency from the American to flip the mental script.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Pegula in 3 sets (6–4, 3–6, 6–4) – Nosková’s power keeps it tense, but Pegula’s return quality, tactical structure, and grass composure should wear down the Czech late. Watch for a tight finish with both players earning stretches of momentum.