Jessica Pegula’s quest for a historic three-peat at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal ended in heartbreak as she suffered a stunning third-round defeat to Anastasija Sevastova, a 35-year-old Latvian ranked No. 386. The world No. 4, who had dominated the tournament in 2023 and 2024, fell 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a match that exposed her recent struggles with consistency. Pegula, visibly frustrated, labeled her performance as “sloppy” and admitted, “I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis,” a candid reflection of her faltering form as the US Open looms.
Pegula, the third seed, arrived in Montreal with high expectations. Her 2025 season had been a blend of brilliance and inconsistency, marked by three titles in Charleston, Austin, and Bad Homburg, where she notably defeated Iga Świątek. However, early exits at Wimbledon and the Citi DC Open hinted at vulnerabilities. In Montreal, Pegula started strong, edging out Maria Sakkari 7-5, 6-4 in a hard-fought opener. That victory extended her remarkable 90% win rate at the Canadian Open, a record surpassing even Serena Williams’ best at a WTA 1000 event. Yet, against Sevastova, her game unraveled, ending her 11-match winning streak at the tournament and dashing hopes of becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000.
The match began with Pegula in control. She broke Sevastova in the first and ninth games to claim the opening set 6-3, showcasing the aggressive baseline play that had carried her to a US Open final in 2024. But the momentum shifted dramatically in the second set. Up a set and 2-0, Pegula faltered, admitting, “I felt like I had total control and then I just played a couple of terrible games for, like, three games. That totally flipped the momentum of the match.” Sevastova, a former world No. 11 returning from maternity leave and a serious knee injury, capitalized, breaking Pegula’s serve three times to level the match. The Latvian’s resilience shone in the third set, where she fended off all three of Pegula’s break point chances while converting three of her own, racing to a 6-1 rout.
Pegula’s performance was marred by 63 unforced errors, a staggering number for the usually steady American. Reflecting on her struggles, she said, “At times I am [playing well], but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. It really bothers me. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so I don’t like having to say that.” She pinpointed her mid-match lapse as the turning point, noting, “I didn’t feel like I made her earn that at that point. I think I kind of gave that away.” Her candid self-assessment highlighted a player grappling with the pressure of sustaining her high standards, particularly at a venue where she had historically excelled.
Sevastova, by contrast, celebrated a remarkable upset. In only her fourth tournament since returning from a torn ACL and motherhood, she became the second-oldest woman in the past 40 years to defeat a top-five opponent at the Canadian Open. “Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better,” she said. “Third set, I played really good. Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible.” Her victory was a testament to her fighting spirit, as she added, “It’s tough, but I think I’m a fighter on court. I didn’t want to give up.” Sevastova’s win earned her a fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka, who advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jelena Ostapenko.
For Pegula, the loss compounds a challenging stretch. Her early exits at Wimbledon (to Elisabetta Cocciaretto) and Washington (to Leylah Fernandez) have raised concerns about her form heading into the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. Yet, she remains determined to regroup, emphasizing the need to focus on “big points” and sustain her high-level play. “I do think I am playing some good tennis to get up in these matches,” she said. “There are times where I’m reeling off six, seven really good games, and then it kind of falls away. I’ve got to figure out how to sustain that higher level against these good players.” Her resolve reflects a champion unwilling to dwell on setbacks, even as fans on social media expressed disappointment, with one user lamenting, “What a true embarrassment from Jessica Pegula. This is the world number 3?!”
As Pegula looks to Cincinnati to rebuild momentum, Sevastova’s improbable run continues to captivate. The Latvian, who is unsure if she’ll play beyond the US Open, is savoring every moment. Her upset not only reshaped the Montreal draw but also underscored the unpredictable nature of tennis, where, as Pegula noted, “Nothing in tennis makes sense sometimes.” With the hard-court season in full swing, Pegula’s next steps will be closely watched as she aims to rediscover the form that made her a Grand Slam finalist and a Canadian Open legend.
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