Pegula Takes Down Swiatek in Crazy Canadian SF, Will Await Rybakina-Samsonova Winner

Jessica Pegula beat world No. 1 Iga Swiatek for a second time this year, this time doing in a crazy semifinal at the Canadian Open Masters in Montreal 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4.

“It was a great match,” Pegula said to the WTA. “It was tough. Kind of a roller coaster. Really up and down, but I’m glad I was able to hold my nerve there at the end.”

Pegula, who upset Swiatek at the United Cup at the start of the year, started strong off the blocks but Swiatek began to play with better precision in the second.

The match, though, saw breaks traded like candy — 19 in all — as Pegula broke Swiatek a record 11 times. And she tried to serve it out at 5-4 but failed.

In the second set breaker, Pegula led 4-3 when during the point the song “Cotton Eye Joe” blasted through the speakers. The point was stopped and replayed but Swiatek had somehow found a spark winning 12 straight points.

“I just thought it was funny,” Pegula said of the moment. “I’ve never had that happen, let alone with ‘Cotton-Eye Joe.’ I was, like, is this really happening right now? Of all the songs. It was just, like, what is going on?”

Swiatek would take it in stride and go up 2-0 in the third, eventually leading 4-2, 30-0. But Pegula got back on track and ran off the last four games as errors crept in the Swiatek game.

“Even though I served for it at 5-4, I thought she played a great game,” Pegula said. “She hit two lines and just went for her shots, and sometimes that just happens.

“Then in the third, got down to break. I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t holding, but then at the same time I knew she was having trouble holding as well. It was whoever could kind of consolidate the break.”

Swiatek saw her 8-match win streak come to an end. She was also playing her third straight 3-set match.

“For sure the intensity of the match was really high and I for sure didn’t start well,” Swiatek said.

“She really pushed me, so I needed to change something up. It was working but in the third I don’t really know what happened when I was leading. I’ve got to watch the match and analyze because for sure she was fighting for every point, and I did as well. It was a tricky match.

It’s Pegula’s first Canadian final and third overall at the Masters level. She’s into her 7th career final seeking just her 3rd career title, first title since 22 Guadalajara (d Sakkari) last fall.

Late day rain forced the postponement of the second semifinal between Elena Rybakina and Liudmila Samsonova. It’s likely a blessing for Rybakina who didn’t finish until 3am last night, but the winner will have to win two to take the title tomorrow.

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