Pegula wins it again, the queen of Canadian Open

Sixth seed and world No.3 Jessica Pegula defended her National Bank Open title with a 6-3 2-6 6-1 victory over Amanda Anisimova in Monday’s all-American final, improving her impressive win-loss record at the tournament to 17-2.

The Buffalo, New York native, who was cheered on by friends, family, and her husband, was especially thrilled to play so close to home—a rare opportunity in her career.

Pegula’s victory marks her sixth WTA singles title and her third at the prestigious WTA 1000 level, adding to her previous triumphs at the National Bank Open in Montreal last year and Guadalajara in 2022. She becomes the first woman to claim back-to-back titles at the National Bank Open since Martina Hingis achieved the feat in 2000.

Facing off against Anisimova, who had been in scintillating form throughout the week, defeating four Top 20 players en route to her first WTA 1000 final, Pegula faced a formidable challenge. The unseeded Anisimova, who entered the tournament ranked No.132, is projected to make a significant leap back into the Top 50 after her impressive run in Toronto. Anisimova, a former French Open semifinalist, started the year ranked outside the Top 350 after an eight-month hiatus in 2023 to focus on her mental health.

In the opening set, Pegula dominated with her serve, winning 16 of 17 service points, including all 12 of her first-service points. She secured a break in the first game and maintained her advantage, clinching the set 6-3 after an Anisimova double fault.

The second set saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Anisimova found her rhythm, executing her powerful groundstrokes with precision. After saving triple break points early in the set, Anisimova went on a tear, breaking Pegula twice to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Pegula’s first dropped set of the tournament came as Anisimova held serve to level the match at one set apiece.

But as she has done so often in Canada, Pegula found another gear in the decisive set. She extended rallies, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike, and quickly raced to a 5-0 lead by winning 16 of the first 18 points. Although Anisimova managed to get on the scoreboard at 5-1, it was too late to stop Pegula’s momentum.

In addition to defeating Anisimova in the final, Pegula’s path to the title included victories over former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, as well as Ashlyn Krueger, Peyton Stearns, and Diana Shnaider.

With the victory, Pegula not only defended her National Bank Open title but also solidified her status as one of the most consistent performers on the WTA Tour. Her ability to regroup after dropping the second set and dominate the third underscores her mental toughness and tactical acumen, qualities that have propelled her to the top echelons of women’s tennis.