Canadian Open 2024 final: Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (3) Jessica Pegula vs (PR) Amanda Anisimova
Date: August 12, 2024
Tournament: National Bank Open 2024
Round: Final
Venue: Sobeys Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: ≈$3.5 million
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova preview
Defending champion Jessica Pegula will lock horns with fellow American Amanda Anisimova in the final of the Canadian Open 2024.
Pegula's title defense commenced with a 7-5, 6-4 win over former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova. She next beat Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-4, and downed Peyton Stearns 6-4, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. She was up against 14th seed Diana Shnaider in the semifinals.
Shnaider struck first in the opening set but Pegula broke back immediately to remain on level terms. The latter broke the former's serve in the seventh game to go 4-3 up and held on to the lead until the end to claim the set.
The two remained on even footing until about halfway through the second set. Pegula then reeled off the last four games to secure a 6-4, 6-3 win and reach her second successive final at the venue.
Anisimova's Canadian Open campaign started with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Caroline Dolehide. She knocked out fifth seed Daria Kasatkina in straight sets as well. She clinched the first set against 10th seed Anna Kalinkskaya after which the latter retired due to an injury.
Anisimova defeated second seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-2 to set up a semifinal showdown with eighth seed Emma Navarro. The two split the first two sets evenly between them.
The third set was steered by Anisimova right off the bat. Navarro offered her some resistance but it wasn't enough as the former French Open semifinalist broke her serve twice in the decider to score a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win.
Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova head-to-head
Pegula leads Anisimova 2-0 in the head-to-head. She won their previous encounter at this year's Charleston Open in three sets.
Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova prediction
Anisimova has been through a murderer's row of opponents after beating four top-20 players in succession to reach her maiden WTA 1000 final. She dropped her first set of the week against Navarro in the semifinals but prevailed in the end.
Pegula has been in fine form, and her win over Shnaider extended her winning streak at the Canadian Open to nine matches. The match featured some clean hitting by the American, and she'll need some more of that to claim the title for the second year in a row.
Anisimova has played really well throughout the tournament. Her groundstrokes have pinned her opponents to behind the baseline, and she's not hesitating to move forward to finish off points either. Her serve has held up quite well too, aside from a few stray double faults.
Pegula has won both of her matches against Anisimova so far. The latter has the game to trouble her older compatriot, as evident from their match in Charleston this year. With two in-form players set to collide, this match could go down to the wire. However, the defending champion's achievements make her the slight favorite to lift the trophy once again.
Pick: Jessica Pegula to win in three sets.