Two-time titleholder, Jessica Pegula from America, falls short in competition
Anastasija Sevastova, the 35-year-old tennis player from Liepaja, Latvia, stunned the tennis world at the 2025 Banque Nationale Tennis Tournament in Montreal by defeating two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, in a thrilling three-set match.
Pegula started the match strongly, winning the first set without facing a break point. However, Sevastova found her rhythm in the third set, winning the first game on her serve. Despite losing the second set after dropping her serve twice, Sevastova rallied to secure the comeback win.
Sevastova's victory marked her first win over a Top 5 player since 2018 and ended Pegula's 11-match winning streak in Canada. The Latvian player's resilience and competitive spirit were on full display, as she played only her 24th tour-level match in four years.
Before this event, Sevastova was ranked much higher earlier in her career, reaching a career-high ranking of 11 in 2018. However, her rankings dropped significantly, making this upset even more notable.
Sevastova's road to the quarterfinals was not easy. She faced severe injury setbacks, including a knee injury that required two surgeries to repair her anterior cruciate ligament. The injury was so severe that she wasn't sure if she would be able to play tennis last year.
Despite these challenges, Sevastova has shown an incredible ability to bounce back. She came to Montreal ranked 386th and received a protected ranking to enter the main draw. Her victory in the Banque Nationale Tennis Tournament comes after a difficult recovery period, during which she was on crutches for six weeks and had a swollen knee due to scar tissue.
In the next round, Sevastova will face Naomi Osaka, who qualified for the round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Jelena Ostapenko. Osaka had to save two match points against Liudmila Samsonova in a previous match to reach this stage of the tournament.
The Banque Nationale Tennis Tournament will crown a new women's singles champion on Thursday evening at the IGA stadium. The tournament has been filled with upsets, and Sevastova's victory over Pegula is just one example of the unpredictable nature of the competition. It remains to be seen if Sevastova can continue her impressive run and claim the title.
Tennis is a sport that has seen many exceptional performances, and the 2025 Banque Nationale Tennis Tournament in Montreal is no exception. Anastasija Sevastova's triumph over Jessica Pegula in a thrilling three-set match was not only a testament to her resilience but also a clear demonstration of her enduring passion for the game of tennis.
