Jessica Pegula’s Canadian Open campaign came to a grinding halt on Saturday.
Pegula, the third seed in Toronto, was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by 15th-seeded Russian Diana Shnaider.
The American struggled to take control of her return games, as evidenced by Shnaider winning an astonishing 75 per cent of her second-serve points.
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It was most certainly a disappointing defeat for Pegula, and far from ideal preparation ahead of the US Open.
Remarkably, Pegula has performed better at this year’s Canadian Open than she did in 2025.
Jessica Pegula struggled to locate her best form ahead of the 2025 US Open
Pegula’s preparation for the 2025 US Open was far from ideal.
The American star won only two matches across three events in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati.
Pegula began her 2025 North American swing in Washington, losing her opening match to eventual champion Leylah Fernandez.
The 2024 US Open finalist returned to winning ways in Montreal, beating former world number three Maria Sakkari in her first match.
She was then dumped out of the tournament by Latvian Anastasia Sevastova.
Pegula’s poor form continued in Ohio.
After comfortably defeating Katie Birrell 6-4, 6-3, she crashed out of the WTA 1000 event.
Magda Linette, the 31st seed, defeated Pegula 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 on the Cincinnati Centre Court.
Jessica Pegula’s preparation for the 2025 US Open
- Washington Open round of 16 [first match]: lost to Leylah Fernandez 3-6, 6-1, 5-7
- Canadian Open: defeated Maria Sakkari 7-5, 6-4. Then lost to Anastasia Sevastova, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6
- Cincinnati Open: defeated Katie Birrell 6-4, 6-3. Then lost to Magda Linette, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3
Pegula has already won more matches during this year’s North American swing.
The American reached the Washington Open final earlier this month, beating Anna Kalinskaya and Diana Shnaider en route.
She was then beaten by Alexandra Eala, 6-4, 4-6, 0-6.
Jessica Pegula’s 2025 US Open campaign
Pegula’s form heading into the 2025 US Open would have most certainly been a source of worry for her fans.
However, Pegula appeared unaffected by her poor preparation, reaching the US Open semi-finals without dropping a set.
The American, who was seeded fourth, beat Mayar Sherif, Anna Blinkova, Victoria Azarenka, Ann Li and Barbora Krejcikova en route to the last four.
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There, she faced a familiar foe in the form of world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
For the second year running, Sabalenka ended Pegula’s US Open dream.
The Belarusian triumphed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, before going on to win the title.
