American final at the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto. Jessica Pegulathe world number 6, will defend the title he won last year against his compatriot on Monday Amanda Anisimova after the semifinals played this Sunday in the Canadian city.
Pegula, the number 3 seed in Toronto, eliminated the Russian on Sunday Diana Schneider (24) in two sets, 6-4 and 6-3.
Shnaider, 20 years old, was one of the revelations of the tournament in Canada after leaving Coco Gauff, the current world number 1, on Friday, and a day later his countryman, and world number 13, Liuidmila Samsonova.
Shnaider has won 17 of his last 19 fights but Pegula, 30, has had no trouble putting him away.
After his victory, Pegula acknowledged that the match against Shnaider was probably the best he had played recently despite the difficult weather conditions, with a strong wind on the court.
“I think I played really smart. I adjusted my plan in a couple of games because I felt like what I thought was not going to work, so I had to adapt a little bit so I’m proud that I realized it, ” he said. a press conference.
Pegula revealed himself as a specialist on the fast courts of the Canadian Open, whether it was held in Montreal (like last year) or in Toronto. The American won 16 of the 18 matches he played in the tournament, a record surpassed only by Chris Evert and Monica Seles.
The tennis player added that he is sure Monday’s final will be a long battle with Anisimova, 132 in the world and who reached 21st place in 2019 when she was 17 and then took a sabbatical year in 2023.
“Amanda has always been a very talented player and she’s one of the best players when she’s injury-free and playing. She’s had a little rest, which is great, and it’s good to see her playing at the highest level again,” said by Pegula.
The American too Emma Navarro15 in the world and on Sunday defeated Anisimova in another semifinal of the Toronto tournament by 6-3, 2-6 and 6-2, itself confirming that the 22-year-old tennis player is back with enthusiasm to return to the top of the ranking.
Against Navarro, Anisimova (who had beaten world number 3 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday) controlled the first set with a better serve and overcame discomfort caused by injuries to her left foot in the second set to take the third set loudly.
In the press conference after the match against Navarro, Anisimova admitted that she had to “give it all” in the third set to overcome the pain of the injuries.
“I tried to fight as hard as I could and play my best tennis, so I’m happy with how I got through it,” he explained.
The Toronto final was the first in a WTA 1,000 tournament that Anisimova would play in her career.
Source: La Verdad
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