Pegula thumps Samsonova in Montreal final
MONTREAL: Jessica Pegula beat a tired Liudmila Samsonova to win her second career WTA 1000 title at the Montreal Open on Sunday. The 29-year-old American world number one dominated his Russian opponent from start to finish, winning 6-1, 6-0 in just 49 minutes.
Fifteenth-seeded Samsonova reached the final after winning the grueling three-set semi-final earlier on Sunday against third-seeded Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s match postponed due to heavy rain. But the challenge of winning twice in one day ultimately proved too much for Samsonova, the rampant Pegula determined to claim her second WTA elite title after winning in Guadalajara last year.
“I know he wasn’t feeling his best physically, but at the same time I played a very clean game,” Pegula said after his victory. “I don’t think I made any unforced errors or anything. I played a perfect game.”
However, Pegula admitted that he would have preferred to face a well-rested Samsonova. “It’s not ideal…it sucks when it doesn’t feel like you’re on a truly level playing field, especially someone like her who’s just as mean as her.” . She’s a great player,” said Pegula. Meanwhile, Samsonova said the schedule took its toll, leaving little time to rest and recover between the semi-finals and the final.
“I didn’t have time to recover because I was in the gym recording my whole body and it takes an hour. I was on the pitch and then I came back, it was weird,” did he declare. Pegula, a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, entered the court quickly with an early break in the first set and led 3-1.
A big forehand cross made it 4-1, before a visibly tired Samsonova broke again in the sixth game, allowing Pegula to serve.
Published in EDP BLOGS on August 14,2023.
