Jessica Pegula, of the US, reacts throughout her match in opposition to Anastasija Sevastova, of Latvia, on the Nationwide Financial institution Open ladies’s tennis event, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press by way of AP)
MONTREAL — Two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula was eradicated within the third spherical of the Nationwide Financial institution Open, falling 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Anastasija Sevastova on Friday.
Sevastova, a 35-year-old from Latvia who was ranked eleventh in 2018 however has fallen to 386th, broke the third-seeded Pegula six occasions on 10 possibilities.
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“One way or the other, I used to be down 2-0 within the second set and began to play higher and higher,” Sevastova stated. “Third set, I performed actually good. “Simply making an attempt to remain on the courtroom so long as attainable.”
Within the evening session, Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland routed Eva Lys of Germany 6-2, 6-2. The second-seeded Swiatek superior to face Sixteenth-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark, a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva.
“It’s all the time enjoyable right here,” Swiatek stated. “It was a stable match so I’m completely satisfied to have an opportunity to play one other one right here. The match was totally different from how we performed one another final time. I simply targeted on myself and knew what my plan was.”
Sevastova has performed 24 WTA Tour-level matches in 4 years. She acquired a spot in the primary draw with a protected rating due to a knee damage. In March 2024, in her fourth event again from maternity go away, she tore her ACL on the ATX Open
“It’s powerful, however I feel I’m a fighter, additionally on courtroom,” Sevastova stated. “I didn’t wish to hand over. This was actually about coming again and exhibiting that you are able to do it after a torn ACL, after such a setback. It was like unfinished enterprise.”
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Sevastova is the lowest-ranked participant to beat a top-10 participant since Angelique Kerber edged Jelena Ostapenko final 12 months at Indian Wells.
The loss continued a poor run for the fourth-ranked Pegula, who received her opener in Montreal over Maria Sakkari of Greece, however exited Wimbledon and the D.C. Open after one match in July.
“It hasn’t been nice, to be sincere,” Pegula stated. “I don’t actually really feel like I’m enjoying nice tennis. At occasions I’m, however I really feel very up and down, type of sloppy, which I don’t like. It actually bothers me.”
Sevastova will tackle Naomi Osaka, who moved to the fourth spherical with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.
Osaka, a former No. 1-ranked participant from Japan, is enjoying her first event with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, She had 5 aces and transformed 6 of 9 break-point alternatives to win the match in 1 hour, 12 minutes.
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“She broke me a pair occasions, however she’s a very good returner, so I can’t take that personally,” Osaka stated. “I went in there realizing she’s a fantastic participant, and if I give her an opportunity she’s going to hit a winner on me, so I simply tried to maintain my tempo and keep as stable as I might.”
Fifth-seeded Amanda Anisimova of the US routed Emma Raducanu of England 6-2, 6-1 at evening. Anisimova will play Tenth-seeded Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine, a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Anna Kalinskaya of Russia within the late match.
Sixth-seeded Madison Keys beat fellow American Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“Right this moment I did job of bouncing again after the primary set,” Keys stated. “Let go of the primary set and transfer on. Completely happy I used to be in a position to do this.”
