Tennis
2026-01-28 - Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Tennis : Australian Open Quarter Final
Wednesday 28th January 2025 - Scheduled 1pm
2am (British Time)
Preview
These two compatriots last met in the Final of the Canadian Masters in August 2024 and it was Jessica Pegula who got the better of Amanda Anisimova in three sets to win the title.
Fast forward to January 2026 and so much has changed for the latter, who is going into this Quarter Final as the favourite.
When Amanda Anisimova last faced Jessica Pegula, she was the World Number 132 and still making her way back onto the Tour after taking a break from the sport.
Now it is Anisimova who will go into this Quarter Final as the higher Ranked of the two players and she has also reached the last two Grand Slam Finals, which has given the World Number 4 a huge amount of confidence. The performances here in Melbourne have been from a player who has total belief in what she needs to do on the court and there is a consistency from Amanda Anisimova that will make her very dangerous.
Of course she has to respect Jessica Pegula who has been a consistent feature of the top 10 in the World Rankings and who has just beaten the defending Champion in the Fourth Round.
Prior to the win over Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula had been crushing all opponents behind some spectacular performances, but that is partly down to the draw opening up for her. The win over Keys was solid enough, although it was a match that could have seen the momentum swing at a couple of key moments and Pegula may feel that she has to find another level when facing someone like Amanda Anisimova.
She has never been beaten on the Tour by Anisimova, which has to be noted, but Jessica Pegula will also be aware that this may be the best version of her compatriot to date.
Over the last twelve months there has been contrasting results when these two have faced top 10 Ranked opponents on the hard courts- Amanda Anisimova has won seven out of ten in that spot, while Jessica Pegula has lost seven out of eleven.
Throughout her career, Jessica Pegula has just found things a bit too tough at the business end of the Grand Slam tournaments and that has happened more often than not. She can cause problems with her returning ability, but Anisimova may just have the slight edge at key moments and she can move through to the Semi Final at the Australian Open for the first time.
Prediction
Two American players meet in Australia for a place in the Semi Final of the opening Grand Slam of the 2026 season.
It should be a match with some swings in momentum, but Amanda Anisimova is playing with so much confidence right now and the stronger results against top 10 Ranked opponents on this surface over the last twelve months may be important in determining the final outcome.
The Pick :
Jessica Pegula 1-2 Amanda Anisimova
