Jessica Pegula routs Liudmila Samsonova in Montreal for 3rd career WTA Tour title
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, holds the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, lifts the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reacts following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, celebrates after her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, left, hugs Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, following Pegula’s win at the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug.13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, from the United States, salutes the crowd following her win in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament against Liudmila Samsonova, from Russia, in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, shakes hands with Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, following Pegula’s win in the finals of the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, right, of the United States, and Liudmila Samsonova, left, of Russia, hold their trophies following the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, kisses the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, holds the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, holds the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, lifts the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, lifts the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reacts following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, reacts following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, celebrates after her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, celebrates after her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, left, hugs Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, following Pegula’s win at the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug.13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, left, hugs Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, following Pegula’s win at the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug.13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, from the United States, salutes the crowd following her win in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament against Liudmila Samsonova, from Russia, in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, from the United States, salutes the crowd following her win in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament against Liudmila Samsonova, from Russia, in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, shakes hands with Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, following Pegula’s win in the finals of the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, shakes hands with Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, following Pegula’s win in the finals of the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, hits a return to Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, right, of the United States, and Liudmila Samsonova, left, of Russia, hold their trophies following the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, right, of the United States, and Liudmila Samsonova, left, of Russia, hold their trophies following the final of the women’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, kisses the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, kisses the trophy following her win over Liudmila Samsonova, of Russia, in the women’s final of the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
MONTREAL (AP) — Jessica Pegula routed Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 6-0 on Sunday to win the National Bank Open for her third career WTA Tour victory.
“We’re out on tour to win tournaments and to win titles every single week, but tennis can be really tough where you sometimes lose a lot,” said Pegula, the 29-year-old American seeded fourth.
“Even when you’re winning a lot of matches, you’re still not winning tournaments, so it can get tough. Winning a week like this week makes it all worth it and makes you want to keep going for more.”
She topped Samsonova in 49 minutes after the 15th-seeded Russian beat third-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 earlier Sunday in a rain-delayed semifinal.
“I know, obviously, physically she wasn’t feeling her best, but at the same time I played a really clean match,” Pegula said. “I don’t really think I made any unforced errors or anything. I played kind of a perfect match.”
Samsonova had 2 hours, 15 minutes between matches.
“Honestly, I would love to have more time,” Samsonova said. “But they said that it’s not possible, so it’s OK. I didn’t have time to regenerate because I was in the physio room trying to tape all my body, and it takes one hour for this.”
Pegula is the first American to win the event since Serena Williams in 2013. She beat doubles partner Coco Gauff on Friday in the quarterfinals, then knocked off top-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 on Saturday in the semifinals.
“Beating Coco and beating Iga were two really tough wins back-to-back,” Pegula said. “And being able to do that and then just come out today and play a really clean match was kind of great. I felt like I didn’t have a ton of pressure at any point or I wasn’t worried too much today.”
Pegula also won tour titles in 2019 in Washington and 2022 in Guadalajara. Her parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis