Jessica Pegula Dominates Liudmila Samsonova to Win Montreal Open Final
Jessica Pegula displayed an outstanding performance as she overpowered Liudmila Samsonova to secure her second WTA 1000 title at the Montreal Open. In a lopsided final, the 29-year-old American completely dominated her Russian opponent, cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 victory in just under 50 minutes.
Pegula, currently ranked number three in the world, controlled the match from the very beginning and left no room for Samsonova to mount any resistance. The weary Russian player had just finished a grueling three-set semi-final earlier in the day against Elena Rybakina, which had been postponed due to rain.
Samsonova, seeded fifteenth, fought hard to reach the final, but the arduous task of playing two matches in a single day proved too much for her. Pegula, on the other hand, was determined to claim her second elite WTA title after her triumph in Guadalajara last year.
Reflecting on her victory, Pegula expressed satisfaction with her performance. I played a really clean match. I don’t think I made any unforced errors or anything. I played kind of a perfect match, she said. However, she acknowledged that she would have preferred to face a fully rested Samsonova, considering her opponent’s capabilities.
Samsonova, worn out from the intense schedule, lamented the lack of time to rest and recover between matches. I didn’t have time to regenerate because I was in the physio room to tape all my body, and it takes one hour. I was out of the court and then again in, it was strange, she explained.
Pegula wasted no time in establishing her dominance, breaking Samsonova’s serve early in the first set to take a 3-1 lead. She continued to pile on the pressure, hitting a stunning crosscourt forehand to extend her advantage to 4-1. The visibly fatigued Samsonova was then broken again in the sixth game, allowing Pegula to serve for the set.
Displaying her authority, Pegula fired an ace to earn a set point and followed it up with another ace to claim the opening set. The second set saw Samsonova’s struggles persist, as she double-faulted to gift Pegula an early break in the first game. From that point on, it was a matter of how quickly Pegula would wrap up her victory, as the American showed no mercy.
A sublime backhand crosscourt volley set up another break for Pegula, establishing a commanding 3-0 lead in the second set. She closed out the match by winning three more games in a row, sealing her emphatic triumph.
Pegula’s stellar performance throughout the tournament cannot be understated. In the semi-finals, she defeated world number one Iga Swiatek, further cementing her status as one of the top players in women’s tennis. This year, she has reached the quarter-finals at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, showcasing her consistent form on the grandest stages.
With this victory in Montreal, Pegula has now claimed her second WTA 1000 title, highlighting her growth and potential as a force to be reckoned with in the women’s tennis circuit. As she continues to make her mark, the American star will undoubtedly be a player to watch in upcoming tournaments.
