Jessica Pegula had just lost her first set of the National Bank Open.
The momentum was on the side of an opponent seated several metres away — a hard-hitting, former Grand Slam semifinalist in the midst of an impressive climb back up the WTA Tour rankings.
Feeling right at home not far from where she grew up, Pegula didn’t blink.
And then continued to dominate north of the border.
The No. 3 seed topped Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to defend her NBO women’s singles crown in Monday’s all-American title match.
On the men’s side, played in Montreal, Australia’s Alexei Popyrin defeated fifth-ranked Andrey Rublev of Russia 6-2, 6-4.
Pegula, the product of nearby Buffalo, N.Y., also won last year’s Canadian tennis championship in Montreal and improved her all-time mark at the event to 17-2.
WATCH | Pegula overcomes Anisimova to claim 2nd straight NBO crown:
Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates her win against fellow American Amanda Anisimova at the women’s singles final in Toronto.
“I really wanted this one,” said Pegula, who picked up her sixth tournament victory overall. “I know everyone’s talking about my record and all this stuff, but it’s nice to be able to get through the week and to back it up.
“Just super excited an honour, really.”
Pegula, ranked No. 6 in the world, is the first woman to repeat in Canada since Martina Hingis in 2000.
“I’ve always just played well here,” said the 30-year-old. “Especially Toronto, it’s nice. It’s so close to Buffalo, I had a lot of friends, family [in the stands]. And my grandparents, my husband.
“I don’t really get that at a lot of tournaments.”
Anisimova, who entered the week ranked 132nd as she continues her comeback after stepping away from the game for a mental health break last year, beat three top-20 players in Toronto, including No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
“Really thought I had it there after the second set, but she really stepped it up,” said Anisimova, who will wake up Tuesday at No. 49 in the rankings. “She was playing some amazing tennis. It was a very, very difficult match.
No. 1 seeds Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe were upset by the American duo of Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk 7-6 (2), 3-6, 1/810-7 3/8 in the doubles final later Monday.
Dabrowski, who captured mixed doubles bronze at the Paris Olympics with Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, also won the NBO doubles crown in 2021 with former partner Luisa Stefani of Brazil.
Monday’s match between Pegula and Anisimova marked just the second time the final of a WTA 1000 event — one step below the sport’s four Grand Slams — has featured two Americans since the format was first introduced in 2009, with the only other instance coming in 2016 when Serena Williams defeated Madison Keys in Rome.
Australia’s Popyrin wins men’s singles title
The 25-year-old Popyrin, who turned pro in 2017, defeated fifth-ranked Andrey Rublev of Russia 6-2, 6-4 on Monday night at IGA Stadium in a match that took 90 minutes to play.
Popyrin, who lost in the round of 16 at the Paris Olympics, had 10 aces and only three double faults against Rublev. The Australian knocked off four seeded players to win the ATP 1000 event.
Rublev had four aces, five double faults and 15 unforced errors.
WATCH | Popyrin downs Rublev to win men’s singles title at NBO:
Alexei Popyrin of Australia defeated Andrey Rublev of Russia 6-2, 6-4 Monday in the final of the National Bank Open men’s tennis tournament in Montreal.