Despite entering the tournament on the back of a shaky hardcourt swing - having made early exits in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati - Pegula has found her rhythm in New York. The world number four is yet to drop a set at this year\u2019s U.S. Open and looked in complete control throughout her match against Li, striking 12 winners and dictating play from the baseline with powerful, precise groundstrokes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI felt really comfortable moving today,\u201d Pegula said after the win. \u201cI felt like today I started off really well and I just wanted to keep executing that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pegula, seeded fourth, had already beaten Li earlier this year in the second round of Roland Garros and appeared to draw confidence from that result, replicating the same aggressive approach. She got off to a flying start, winning the first three games of the opening set before Li managed to break her in the fourth to get on the scoreboard.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, Pegula quickly responded by breaking back in the next game, regaining momentum. The opening set came to a close when Li committed a backhand error in the seventh game, handing Pegula the set.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the second set, a baseline error from Li on a break point gifted Pegula an early lead once again, this time in the fourth game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, Pegula quickly responded by breaking back in the next game, regaining momentum. The opening set came to a close when Li committed a backhand error in the seventh game, handing Pegula the set.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Up next, she will face either Czech star Barbora Krejcikova or fellow American Taylor Townsend in the last eight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n