MusaIn one of the most stunning upsets of the WTA season, defending Canadian Open champion Jessica Pegula suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of world No. 386, Anastasija Sevastova, after blowing a significant lead in her second-round match in Montreal.
Pegula, ranked No. 4 in the world and seen as a strong contender to defend her title, started the match in dominant form. She raced ahead with an early break in both sets and seemed to be in total control. However, a dramatic momentum shift saw Sevastova mount a comeback, using her signature craft, variety, and mental toughness to completely rattle the American.
The Latvian, who is making a return to the WTA Tour after an extended injury break, showed no signs of rust. She dug deep in key moments and ultimately stunned Pegula 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 in a thrilling three-set battle.
“I just stayed patient and kept fighting,” Sevastova said after the match. “Jessica is such a strong player, but I believed in my game and took my chances.”
The loss is a devastating blow to Pegula, who was expected to use the Canadian Open 2025 as a key warm-up ahead of the US Open. Despite holding leads in all three sets, she was unable to close the match, committing a series of unforced errors at crucial points.
For Sevastova, the win is one of the biggest of her career rankings-wise and marks a significant milestone in her comeback story. Her crafty game continues to frustrate top players, and with Pegula out, the Montreal draw has cracked wide open.
Fans and analysts alike are calling this one of the most shocking results in Canadian Open history—proving again that anything is possible on the WTA Tour.
dam
Musa
John Owolabi