“Jessica Pegula Joins Serena Williams on Elite List with Cincinnati Open 2024 Final Appearance, Just Days After Toronto Heroics”

American tennis player Jessica Pegula has joined Serena Williams on the list of players who have reached the Canadian and Cincinnati Open finals in the same year. She became the sixth woman to do so after Romanian Simona Halep achieved it twice, in 2015 and 2018.

Pegula, a former World No. 1 in women’s doubles, clinched the 2023 Canadian Open victory in Montreal, marking her second WTA 1000 and third WTA singles title. She repeated the feat at the 2024 Canadian Open in Toronto, ousting Karolína Plíšková, Ashlyn Krueger, Peyton Stearns and Diana Shnaider on her way to the final. She defended her title against American player Amanda Anisimova with 6-3, 2-6, 2-1.At the 2024 Cincinnati Open, the 30-year-old trounced Karolina Muchová, Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend to reach the semifinals, where she clashed with Paula Badosa and triumphed 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Pegula has thus reached another WTA 1000 final, an achievement that makes her only the sixth player in the Open Era to reach the women’s singles finals of the Canadian and Cincinnati Open tournaments in a single calendar year.

The six-time Major quarterfinalist in singles parted ways with her long-time coach, David Witt in 2024. Pegula currently trains under former Bahamanian players, Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein. Her previous performances in 2024 were marred by injuries, which also compelled her to withdraw from the French Open.