Pegula strong to defend title in Toronto, Anisimova reborn

Jessica Pegula won the 2024 National Bank Open in Toronto on Monday. In the final, the American dominated her compatriot Ana Anisimova in three sets (6-3, 2-6, 6-1) and 1 hour and a half. Last year, she had already won the tournament, but on the Montreal courts, as it is held alternately in each of the two Canadian cities.

Pegula was initially very solid on serve in the first set (losing just one point). Dominated in the second set, she then reacted perfectly at the start of the third, winning 17 of the first 20 points and the first 5 games to make the final difference. The world No.6 is now full of confidence ahead of the US Open (August 26 - September 08), although she will first have to confirm this in Cincinnati (August 13 - 19).

For Anisimova, despite her defeat in the final, this is a real renaissance. The 22-year-old American, a former top tennis prospect (ranked 23rd in the world at the age of 17 in 2019), had never before reached the final of a WTA 1000.