In a surprising turn of events at the National Bank Open in Montreal, reigning two-time champion Jessica Pegula was defeated in the third round by Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. The match concluded with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in favor of Sevastova, marking a decisive victory for the 35-year-old who has dramatically fallen in rankings over recent years.
Despite being ranked 386th compared to her career-high 11th position in 2018, Sevastova demonstrated her resilience by breaking Pegula’s serve six times out of ten opportunities. “Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better,” Sevastova reflected. “In the third set, I played really well, just trying to stay on the court as long as possible.”
During the evening session, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the recent Wimbledon champion, triumphed over Eva Lys of Germany with a confident 6-2, 6-2 victory. The second seed now prepares to face Denmark’s Clara Tauson, who won 6-3, 6-0 against Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva. “It’s always a pleasure to play here,” Swiatek remarked. “I’m glad to advance and am looking forward to my next match.”
Sevastova, currently making a notable comeback, had secured her spot in the main draw based on a protected ranking due to a previous knee injury. Despite tearing her ACL in March 2024, she has persisted, showcasing her strength and determination. “It’s tough, but I think I’m a fighter,” she commented. “Coming back from such a setback feels like unfinished business.”
This victory makes Sevastova the lowest-ranked player to overcome a top-10 opponent since Angelique Kerber’s victory over Jelena Ostapenko at Indian Wells last year.
Meanwhile, the setback continues a challenging period for Pegula, currently ranked fourth. After a successful start against Maria Sakkari of Greece, her recent performances, including early exits at both Wimbledon and the D.C. Open, have left her feeling discontent with her game. “It hasn’t been great, to be honest,” Pegula admitted. “I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. It really bothers me.”
Sevastova’s advancement leads her to a face-off against Naomi Osaka, who reached the fourth round with 6-2, 6-4 win against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko. This tournament marks Osaka’s debut event with her new coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski. She saw success with five aces and converting six of nine break-point chances, concluding the match in a swift 1 hour and 12 minutes. “She broke me a couple of times, but I went in knowing she’s a great player,” Osaka noted. “My focus was to maintain my pace and stay solid.”
Elsewhere, American Amanda Anisimova, the fifth seed, soundly defeated England’s Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-1. Anisimova is set to clash with Ukraine’s 10th-seeded Elina Svitolina, who delivered a decisive 6-1, 6-1 win over Anna Kalinskaya of Russia. Additionally, Madison Keys, seeded sixth, overcame an early setback against fellow American Caty McNally to win with scores of 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. “I did a good job bouncing back after the first set,” Keys remarked with satisfaction.