Canadian Open 2024: Jessica Pegula vs Diana Shnaider preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (3) Jessica Pegula vs (14) Diana Shnaider
Date: August 11, 2024
Tournament: National Bank Open 2024
Round: Semifinal
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 Diana Shnaider preview
Defending champion Jessica Pegula will square off against Diana Shnaider in the semifinals of the Canadian Open 2024.
After an opening-round bye, Pegula kicked off her title defense with a 7-5, 6-4 win over former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the second round. She defeated her fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-4 in the third round, and faced another compatriot, Peyton Stearns, in the quarterfinals.
One minor misstep from Stearns cost her the first set. She lost her focus in the fifth game, and Pegula was only happy to capitalize on it with a break of serve. The latter held on to this advantage until the end to claim the set.
Stearns got back on track with an early break of serve in the second set. She eventually led 5-2, after which Pegula reeled off the next five games to win the match 6-4, 7-5.
Shnaider needed three sets to beat Harriet Dart and Magdalena Frech in the first couple of rounds. She played her best match of the week to topple top seed Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-1 in the third round. She was up against last year's finalist Liudmila Samsonova in the quarterfinals.
The first set slipped out of Shnaider's hands, though she responded decisively in the second set. She conceded only one game in it to force a decider. She broke Samsonova's serve in the seventh game of the third set and remained in front after that to complete a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 comeback win.
Jessica Pegula vs Diana Shnaider head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Jessica Pegula vs Diana Shnaider odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Jessica Pegula vs Diana Shnaider prediction
Shnaider's win over Samsonova ensured she will make her top 20 debut in next week's WTA rankings. The young Russian has reached her maiden WTA 1000 semifinal, and it hasn't been an easy road. She has already contested three three-set matches this week.
Pegula's title defense has gone off without too many complications. She was on the verge of losing the second set against Stearns in the previous round but dug deep to snatch the set from her rival and emerged victorious.
Shnaider had never beaten a top 10 player before this week when she ousted Gauff in the third round. She has been one of the breakout stars this year and has won three titles. She will be the underdog in this match-up given Pegula's pedigree and accomplishments, though it wouldn't be a surprise to see her one-up the American either.
Pick: Jessica Pegula to win in three sets.