Jessica Pegula has continued her love affair with the Miami Open, with the American now into the last 16.
Pegula has been backed to go deep in Miami, where the WTA number four is chasing her second title of the season.
The American won on home soil at the ATX Open in Austin earlier this month, representing her seventh career title.
Pegula is often frustrated on grass, but her focus is firmly on the Miami Open hard courts, with Marta Kostyuk up next at the WTA 1000 event.
Handed a bye in the first round, Pegula beat Bernarda Pera 6-4, 6-4 in round two, before battling past Anna Kalinskaya 6-7(3-7), 6-2, 7-6(7-2) in round three.
Jessica Pegula emulates Serena Williams after reaching Miami Open last 16
Playing her third career match against Kalinskaya, the Miami Open fourth seed triumphed after two hours and 16 minutes.
And it was a significant win for more reasons than one, with Pegula becoming the first player to reach the last 16 in Miami for five successive years since Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska from 2012 to 2016, as per OptaAce.
Jessica Pegula among American women shining at the Miami Open
Pegula is by no means the only American woman impressing at the Miami Open, where many home favourites remain.
In fact, five American women have reached the last 16 for the first time in successive years since 2002/03, as per OptaAce.
Making the cut alongside Pegula are defending champion Danielle Collins, Coco Gauff, Ashlyn Krueger and Amanda Anisimova.
And it could have been even better if not for the likes of Emma Raducanu and Alexandra Eala, who knocked out McCartney Kessler and Madison Keys respectively in round three.
Top two seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek also remain in the competition, but a home champion is very much on the cards once more given the long list of American names still involved at this stage.
