WATCH: Jessica Pegula openly admits the Canadian Open’s scheduling ‘sucked’ resulting in Liudmila Samsonova’s dismal finals performance
Pegula applauds Samsonova after she showed great character in playing through her busy schedule.
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Jessica Pegula(left)and Liudmila Samsonova(right). (credits: The Express Tribune/CTV News)
World No. 4 Jessica Pegula has recently clinched the Canadian Open beating Liudmila Samsonova in the final. But she has declared that she is not 100 percent fulfilled with the win and expected her opponent to be in full shape for the match. Liudmila has had a very hectic schedule all throughout the Canadian Open, having played 5 games in the space of just 3 days.
At the post-match conference, Pegula was brave enough to applaud her opponent on the determination and professionalism she showed during the tournament. She said, “She’s played a lot of matches in a short amount of time. Scheduling wasn’t in her favor. It sucks when you feel like you’re not on a fair playing ground. Especially someone like her who’s such a great player.”
The match was completely one-sided with Samsonova not able to test the American at all. It was completely evident from her display that her body was completely drained out and she was tired of the best schedule she has been through in the last 3 days. Despite beating the favorites of the tournament, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka, she was no match for Pegula in the final, which amazed Jessica as well.
How good was Jessica Pegula at the Canadian Open?
Pegula entered the Canadian Open with great spirits after her impressive recent results. She came from a quarter-final finish at the Wimbledon Championships, followed by a semi-final finish at the recently played Citi Open. She started her show in Montreal with a first-round victory over Yulia Putintseva in straight sets by 6-4, 6-4 followed by a second-round victory over Jasmine Paolini by 6-4, 6-0.
She faced her first real test at the quarter-finals against her doubles partner and best friend, Coco Gauff, with whom she played down a three-set encounter to finish off the match 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. In the semi-finals, she faced World No. 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek and picked up a shock victory against all the odds, winning it by 2-6, 7-6, 4-6. And in the finals, it was a comfortable 6-1, 6-0 victory for her against a tired and fatigued Samsonova.
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Soumyadeep Mondal
(882 Articles Published)