MELBOURNE : Third seed Jessica Pegula may have been the strongest contender for the Australian Open title before Tuesday's quarter-final loss but the American said she would not beat herself up over missing out on a first Grand Slam semi-final yet again.Pegula was beaten 6-4 6-1 by twice-champion Victoria Azarenka as the American fell at the quarter-final hurdle of a Grand Slam for the fifth time in her career.Pegula was the highest seed left in the draw after Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur made early exits and she was a strong contender for the title in Melbourne after impressing in the American team's victorious United Cup campaign."I feel like I had a good chance to go deeper here than I did by losing tonight...
I had some really good wins at the start of the year and this tournament," Pegula told reporters."I think I can walk away saying it was a successful tournament and a successful trip to Australia.
I definitely felt like I was more confident going in that I could go deeper."I wasn't as surprised by the results of making a quarter-final or fourth round or second week.
It felt more normal for me, which is a good thing."Pegula said she struggled to get a grasp of the night conditions having played her first four matches during the day."The balls are slower and heavier, but at the same time every time I tried to hit out, I felt like I was missing, not by a lot, but a few inches here and there," said Pegula, who made 31 unforced errors."I think I started second-guessing myself with hitting out.