Madison Keys was forced to withdraw from this week's ATX Open after WTA rules prevented her from playing at the tournament due to her new top 10 ranking.

Top-seeded Jessica Pegula needed just 58 minutes on Friday to post a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Russia's Anna Blinkova to reach the semifinals of the ATX Open in Austin, Texas. Pegula won 76.9 percent of her first-serve points and converted 5 of 7 break points while cruising to the victory.

Jessica Pegula has had her say on a strange rule that stopped one of her rivals from playing this week’s ATX Open. Only one top 10 player is allowed to compete at each WTA 250 event.

Jessica Pegula says she feels sorry for Madison Keys being prevented from competing in Austin due to a WTA rule but also suggests that she understands the WTA's position when making that specific rule. In case you missed it, the reigning Australian Open champion was signed up to play at this year's WTA 250 tournament in Austin.

Jessica Pegula is off to a winning start at the ATX Open in Austin after Arantxa Rus retired midway through the second set of their first-round clash. In the fourth game, the top-seeded American converted the first break point of the match and then just held on to her serve for the rest of the first set to clinch the opener with a 6-3 scoreline.