Jessica Pegula Shocks Tennis World with Epic Run to Latest WTA Final — Highlights, Stats & What’s Next

Jessica Pegula begins her Canadian Open title defense today in Montreal with a high-profile Round-of-32 clash against Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, a matchup that has fans and bettors buzzing after their dramatic three-setter at Wimbledon last summer. The 31-year-old American arrives in Quebec searching for momentum after a stop-start summer hard-court swing that included an early exit in Washington and a quarter-final loss in San José. Pegula admitted this week that “results haven’t matched the work,” but said the faster Montréal surface historically lifts her aggressive baseline game. A year ago she ripped through the draw without dropping a set, toppling Iga Świątek and Liudmila Samsonova to collect the biggest trophy of her career. Repeating that run would secure a third WTA 1000 crown and vault her back into the conversation for the No. 1 ranking ahead of the US Open. Key storylines to watch • Head-to-head edge – Pegula leads Sevastova 4-2, including straight-set wins in their last two hard-court meetings. • Serve under scrutiny – The Buffalo native has won just 56 % of second-serve points since grass season, a dip her coach David Witt labeled “the missing piece” before New York. • Heavy schedule – Montréal marks Pegula’s 12th tournament in 2025; fitness could be pivotal if she reaches the weekend back-to-back. Looking ahead, Cincinnati’s revamped Western & Southern Open starts Monday, where Pegula is seeded No. 3 after finishing runner-up in last year’s rain-soaked final. Tournament organizers have introduced a new 96-player draw and a Sunday final, giving Pegula an additional day of rest should she make deep runs in both events. The North American swing then culminates in Flushing Meadows, where Pegula and compatriot Tommy Paul confirmed they will reunite for mixed doubles after reaching the 2024 semi-finals. Singles glory remains the ultimate prize—Pegula has not moved past the quarter-final stage at her home Slam—but back-to-back 1000s offer a chance to enter New York as the sport’s hottest player. Fans in the U.S. can catch Pegula-Sevastova on Tennis Channel at 1 p.m. ET; streaming is available via the WTA’s official platform and participating sportsbooks. With household-name appeal, deep corporate backing, and a fiercely loyal Buffalo fan base, Jessica Pegula’s late-summer surge could shape the entire women’s tennis narrative heading into the final Grand Slam of 2025.