Jessica Pegula goes back-to-back at National Bank Open

 

[August 13, 2024]  Jessica Pegula successfully defended her National Bank Open title, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in an all-American championship final on Monday in Toronto.

Pegula, ranked No. 6 in the world and seeded third, won in Montreal in 2023 as the tournament alternates annually between the two Canadian cities. The location didn't matter as the 30-year-old won in one hour and 27 minutes.

"I don't know what it is about Canada, but I just seem to do well," Pegula said.

In winning her third career WTA 1000-level title and sixth overall, Pegula became the first woman to capture consecutive singles crowns at the National Bank Open since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000. The most recent player to reach two consecutive finals was Simona Halep in 2015-16.

Pegula, now 3-0 all-time versus the unseeded Anisimova, is a career 17-2 in main-draw matches at this event. The two losses came in the semifinals in 2021 and 2022, and she also fell in a qualifying match in 2013.

"I know everyone's talking about my record and all this stuff, but it's nice to be able to get through the week and to back it up," Pegula said. "So, just super excited, I mean, an honor, really."

She started and finished strong, with Anisimova, ranked No. 132 in the world, making it a battle by taking the second set.

Pegula took 16 of 17 service points -- including all 12 of her first-service points -- in the opening set. She registered 16 of the first 19 points in the final set.

Overall, Pegula had more aces (6-2), and won 79.1 percent (34 of 43) of her first-serve points and 44 percent (22 of 50) of first-return points.

Anisimova, 22, recorded more double faults (9-4) in her first WTA 1000-level final. She was seeking a third WTA title and first since early 2022. The native of Freehold, N.J., missed a large part of the 2023 season while focusing on her mental health.

"I put the work in, I kept my head down and I tried to come back to the sport with more of a relaxed feeling," Anisimova said. "Trying to enjoy each day as it comes and not being so serious about everything, because I think that takes away the joy from a lot of things. I think with that kind of approach to my everyday life, I think that's helped me a lot."

She had defeated four straight top-20 players before running into Pegula, a Buffalo, N.Y., native who practically owns this tournament.

"Toronto, it's nice, it's so close to Buffalo, I had a lot of friends, family and my grandparents, my husband was able to come today," Pegula said. "That's cool, I don't really get that at a lot of tournaments. Then to be able to win the tournament as well, and to be able to share that moment with them is really special."

Pegula's 10 consecutive singles matches won are the best since Serena Williams captured 14 straight from 2011-14. Williams was the most recent American to win at the Toronto site (2013) before Pegula on Monday.

Anisimova is projected to move into the top 50 in the updated rankings.

--Field Level Media

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