Iga Swiatek vs. Jessica Pegula Prediction: Iga Swiatek Will Have A Clear Win!

When Poland and the United States clash on Friday at Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek will face third-ranked Jessica Pegula in the first semifinal of the 2023 United Cup.

Swiatek appears to be continuing her excellent form from last year, as she opened her 2023 season with a resounding 6-1, 6-3 victory over Kazakhstan's World No. 51 Yulia Putintseva. She also won her doubles match with Hubert Hurkacz, defeating Grigoriy Lomakin and Zhibek Kulambayeva 6-3, 6-4, giving Poland a 4-1 triumph against Kazakhstan.

The 21-year-old won her second singles match of the season, 6-3, 7-6, against Switzerland's 12th-ranked Belinda Bencic (3). The Pole extended her winning run in straight sets on Wednesday, defeating World No. 27 Martina Trevisan of Italy 6-2, 6-4 in the Brisbane City Finals.

Swiatek and Hurkacz defeated Lorenzo Musetti and Camilla Rosatello 6-1, 6-2 in a winner-take-all match to advance Poland to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula had a setback in her first match of the 2023 season, losing in straight sets against World No. 16 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic on Day 2 of the United Cup. In a doubles match, she and Taylor Fritz defeated Jiri Lehecka and Marie Bouzkova 2-6, 6-3, 10-7. In the league stage, the United States defeated the Czech Republic 4-1.

The 28-year-old American won her opening match of the season, defeating 176th-ranked Laura Siegemund of Germany 6-3, 6-2. She then defeated Siegemund and Daniel Altmaier 6-7(5), 6-4, 10-7 with the help of Frances Tiafoe.

On Wednesday, Pegula was in total command of the Sydney City Finals between the United States and Great Britain. She defeated World No. 98 Harriet Dart 6-2, 6-0 before partnering with Fritz to defeat Dart and Daniel Evans 6-4, 6-4 in another doubles match.

Swiatek has won all three of her United Cup singles matches in straight sets. Pegula lost her first match, but she came back strong with two clear victories. When the two players meet on Friday, it should be a tight match.

Swiatek, on the other hand, should be considered the favorite to win the match due to her current level of play and her track record versus the American.