"I don't feel like anyone's playing great tennis, been ugly matches": Jessica Pegula on 'weird' level at Canadian Open amid return of lighter balls
Jessica Pegula has shared her thoughts on the perceived drop in the overall level of play at the Canadian Open compared to last year. The American cited the change in balls and tricky weather conditions as potential factors impacting players in Toronto.
Having triumphed at the Canadian Open in Montreal last year, Pegula is aiming for a successful title defense at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto. The American made a strong start to her campaign, claiming dominant straight-set wins over Karolina Pliskova and Ashlyn Krueger.
Taking on fellow American Peyton Stearns in the quarterfinals, the World No. 6 battled back from 5-2 down in the second set to secure a 6-4, 7-5 victory in an hour and 29 minutes, advancing to her fourth consecutive semifinal at the Canadian Open.
Despite not dropping a set en route to the final four, Jessica Pegula admitted that her performance this year hasn't been as impressive as her run in Toronto last year. However, the American asserted that the overall level at the WTA 1000 event has been "weird," with many "ugly matches" to show for it.
The 30-year-old cited the return of the lighter balls as a contributing factor, while also contending that the "tough" windy conditions make it hard to judge her level accurately.
"Yeah, I would say I was probably playing better last year, but to be fair, it seems weird this week, I don't feel like anyone's playing like great tennis, it's been kind of ugly matches. I don't really know why," she said in her post-match press conference.
"I think one is we're back to the regular duty, the lighter balls, which maybe are flying a little bit more on us, and then obviously the last couple days the conditions have just been really, really tough. It's hard to kind of base, give like a true feeling of how I'm playing," she added.
Jessica Pegula also admitted the difficulty in comparing her Canadian Open campaign last year to her current showing, emphasizing that her focus remains on improving and working towards regaining her best level.
"I feel like my first round against Pliskova I played at a high level, I feel like in doubles I played at a pretty high level, but the last two single matches with the conditions have been tricky to kind of gauge. Last year in Montreal I played some really good tennis, yeah, it was a great week, so it's hard to compare," Jessica Pegula said.
"Every day's kind of a new day with tennis, so you never know how you're going to go out there and play, and you always have the next day to improve and play better. I'm just trying to work my way back up there, especially with not a lot of hard-court wins under my belt yet," she added.
Jessica Pegula beats Diana Shnaider to reach Canadian Open final; sets up title clash with Amanda Anisimova
Despite raising concerns about her level at the 2024 Canadian Open, Jessica Pegula delivered a clinical performance against Diana Shnaider in the semifinals, beating the Russian 6-4, 6-3 to reach the final.
The World No. 6 will be up against compatriot Amanda Anisimova in the title clash, following the 22-year-old's 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win over Emma Navarro to reach her maiden WTA 1000 final.
Pegula has emerged victorious in both of her previous encounters against Anisimova, including a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory in their most recent meeting at the 2024 Charleston Open.