For much of the 2023 season, the talk in women’s tennis has centered around the emergence of the “Big Three” — Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina — and their collective dominance. But, all year long, Jessica Pegula has been ranked in the top five, and has spent a large portion of the season ranked at No. 3. She is also one of the most consistent players on tour.
Pegula reached the quarterfinals at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon as well as made deep runs at many events, but the 29-year-old has largely shrugged off not being part of the conversation with her fellow high-ranking peers. “I think they’ve earned that right,” Pegula said in May. “Hopefully, I can be part of that, but I think either way it’s still great for women’s tennis.”
But after her impressive week in Montreal, it might be hard to not include Pegula going forward. She was all but unstoppable at the Canadian Open, as she recorded wins over her doubles partner Coco Gauff and world No. 1 Swiatek en route to the final. She even overcame a midpoint and instantly viral interruption of “Cotton Eye Joe” over the loudspeaker during the second-set tiebreak in her match against Swiatek.
Looking for her second 1000-level title, Pegula made a statement with a 6-1, 6-0 win over
