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…
