TORONTO, August 13, 2024 (Tennis Canada Press Release)
Jessica Pegula defended her National Bank Open presented by Rogers singles title after beating Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on Monday night. The World No. 6 won the trophy in Montreal last year and, with today’s victory at Sobeys Stadium, her record on Canadian soil extends to 17 wins and just two losses. Her route to the final started with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Czechia’s Karolina Pliskova followed by a 6-2, 6-4 triumph against fellow American Ashlyn Krueger. In the quarter-finals, Pegula beat compatriot Peyton Stearns 6-4, 7-5 before toppling Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals.
Told me I couldn’t, so I did! 😤👏@JPegula defends her title in Canada after defeating Anisimova in a three set thriller! #NBO24 pic.twitter.com/bLMVmfuP6e
— wta (@WTA) August 12, 2024
“[I’m] so excited to be here with the trophy again,” Pegula said. “I really wanted this one. I know everyone’s like talking about my record and all this stuff, but it’s nice to, yeah, to be able to get through the week and to back it up, so just super excited, I mean, an honor, really.”
“I really thought I had it there after the second set, but she really stepped it up, and she was playing some amazing tennis, it was a very, very difficult match out there today,” said Anisimova. “I was trying my best, I tried different game plans, but it didn’t work in my favor today, so just going to try and learn from it. I think it was a great experience and a great opportunity I had today to be in a final, so, yeah, I think that at the end of the day I can just take away that I played an amazing player, and I’m just going to go from there and build on this.”
With her victory, Pegula successfully defended the points she won in Montreal last year and will remain No. 6 in the WTA rankings when they are released on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, runner-up Anisimova will move back into the Top 50.
The 2024 National Bank Open welcomed a record number of attendees onsite for a women’s event as 150,729 fans visited Sobeys Stadium from August 4-12, including an all-time high of over 34,000 during 407 ETR Family Community Weekend.
“Congratulations to Jessica on her victory,” said Karl Hale, Tournament Director, NBO Toronto. “It’s been our pleasure to host her this week at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers and she is certainly a worthy winner. This week, we have set an attendance record in a women’s year for our tournament, which just goes to show the interest in tennis in Canada continues to grow. Thank you to our fantastic partners who have helped us elevate the player and fan experience across the Sobeys Stadium site. Now, we look ahead to 2025 and the first expanded, 12-day edition of the National Bank Open.”
