AAP Tennis

Samsonova runs out of steam, Pegula wins Canadian crown

By AAP Newswire

Aug 14, 2023

Jessica Pegula and Liudmila Samsonova. — Jessica Pegula (l) consoles Liudmila Samsonova after beating the Russian in the Canadian Open final. -AP

Jessica Pegula has routed Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 6-0 to win the Canadian Open for her third career WTA Tour victory and send a warning shot to her competitors ahead of the US Open.

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Pegula, the fourth seed, defeated Samsonova after the 15th-seeded Russian beat third-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 1-6 6-1 6-2 earlier on Sunday in a rain-delayed semi-final.

The 29-year-old American won her semi in Montreal on Saturday, edging top-ranked Pole Iga Swiatek 6-2 6-7 (4-7) 6-4.

Pegula, whose parents own the NFL's Buffalo Bills and NHL's Buffalo Sabres, also won tour titles in 2019 in Washington and 2022 in Guadalajara.

"It's tough, it sucks, I feel bad that we weren't able to play on a more fair playing ground," Pegula said after securing her second WTA 1000 title.

Samsonova had an incredible week by claiming two top-five scalps, over reigning Australian Open champion and world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina en route to her first WTA 1000 final.

But she had spent nearly 10 hours on court and those efforts took a toll as Pegula, who had beaten world No.1 Swiatek in the semis, comfortably claimed victory.

"I feel so tired, honestly. I don't know how I managed today," Samsonova, who also played two matches on Friday to secure her spot in the final four, said after her semi success.

"I want to enjoy the next match. I want to enjoy and play my best. I know for me it's going to be harder than for the other because I played the first match today but I think I can enjoy it. I have nothing to lose."

Enjoy it she did not.

Pegula, the world No.3 needed only 49 minutes to become the first American to win the Canadian Open in a decade, after Serena Williams in 2013.

Pegula won a remarkable 100 per cent of her first-serve points, broke Samsonova five times and never faced a break point while wrapping up the one-sided win.

"She had some amazing, two top-10 wins beating two girls that are some of the best players in world, top five right now, and winning grand slams," Pegula said.

"To me, she should be a top-10 player, hopefully she gets there and she's had great results. So kudos to her and I feel bad that it wasn't the way it should have been but I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes."

With PA.