American Jessica Pegula won the Montreal Tennis Open on Sunday by crushing (6-1, 6-0) Russian Liudmila Samsonova in just 49 minutes. The world number three conquers, at 29, the second WTA 1000 title of her career, after her victory in Guadalajara last year.
Samsonova, seeded number 15, had to play the final after winning a grueling semi-final in three sets (1-6, 6-1, 6-2) a few hours earlier against Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the match initially scheduled for Saturday having been postponed due to torrential rain. The challenge of winning twice in the same day proved insurmountable for Samsonova, against a well-rested and raging Pegula.
The American, quarter-finalist at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, quickly got into the action by breaking in the first set to lead 3-1. A superb cross forehand gave her a 4-1 lead before a visibly exhausted Samsonova was broken again in game six and Pegula served for the set. Pegula, who had beaten world number one Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals on Saturday, slammed an ace to secure a set point and then another to close the set.
Samsonova’s misfortunes continued in the second set, with a double fault that allowed Pegula to break in the first game. From there, the question was how quickly Pegula would win the match, and the American was in no mood to drag out the second set. A crossed backhand volley allowed Pegula to break and lead 3-0, before stringing together three more games to secure a clear victory.
“I know physically she wasn’t feeling the best, but at the same time I played a very clean game,” Pegula said after her victory. “I don’t think I made any unforced errors or anything. I played a perfect game.” Pegula admitted, however, that she would have preferred to face a well-rested Samsonova. “It’s not ideal…it sucks when you feel like you’re not on equal footing, especially against a player like her, who is so talented,” she commented.
“I didn’t have time to regenerate because I was in the physio room bandaging my whole body, and it takes an hour. I was off the field, then back on the field, it was strange,” said Samsonova.