Jessica Pegula Triumphs Over Amanda Anisimova to Secure Second Consecutive National Bank Open Title
Jessica Pegula, the third seed and ranked sixth in the WTA Tour, successfully defended her National Bank Open women’s singles title, overcoming fellow American Amanda Anisimova with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in an intense final on Monday.
Pegula, hailing from Buffalo, New York, showcased her exceptional talent, claiming her second consecutive National Bank Open title. Last year, she won the championship in Montreal, and this victory in Toronto solidifies her dominance with an impressive all-time record of 17-2 at the Canadian tennis championship. This win also marks the sixth tournament victory of her career.
“I’m thrilled to be holding the trophy again,” Pegula expressed with excitement. “I really wanted to win this one. Everyone’s been talking about my record here, and it feels great to live up to those expectations and defend my title.”
Pegula’s victory makes her the first woman to successfully defend the Canadian championship since Martina Hingis in 2000.
“I’ve always felt comfortable playing here,” the 30-year-old noted. “Toronto is so close to Buffalo, and having friends, family, and even my grandparents in the crowd today made it extra special. It’s something I don’t get at many tournaments.”
On the other side of the net, Amanda Anisimova, currently ranked No. 132 in the world, delivered a remarkable performance throughout the tournament. She made her way to the final after defeating three top-20 players, including the world’s No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. This tournament marked Anisimova’s comeback after a mental health break, and despite the loss, she will rise to No. 49 in the rankings.
“I felt like I had the match after the second set, but Jessica really elevated her game,” Anisimova said. “She played some incredible tennis, and it was a tough match for me.”
This final was only the second time since 2009 that two Americans faced off in the championship match of a WTA 1000 event. The previous occasion was in 2016 when Serena Williams defeated Madison Keys in Rome.
Pegula, who now holds a 3-0 record against Anisimova, claimed the first set with a decisive break. However, Anisimova fought back in the second set, taking advantage of a Pegula double fault to go up 5-2, ultimately handing Pegula her first dropped set of the tournament.
The last time two American women competed in Canada’s national championship was in 2001 when Serena Williams defeated Jennifer Capriati.
Anisimova’s return to competitive tennis has been a journey of resilience. After an eight-month break, she made her comeback at the Australian Open earlier this year.
“I’ve worked hard to get back here,” Anisimova reflected. “I approached my return with a more relaxed mindset, focusing on enjoying the game rather than being overly serious. That’s really helped me.”
In the doubles final, the American duo of Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk edged out Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe with a score of 7-6 (2), 3-6, 10-7.
Dabrowski, who won a mixed doubles bronze at the Paris Olympics, previously captured the National Bank Open doubles title in 2021. However, in this year’s final, she and Routliffe fell short against Dolehide and Krawczyk, who secured their victory after a thrilling match.
