Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Anastasija Sevastova Knocks Out two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula in Montreal

Pegula hit 63 unforced errors in this clash and faced a shocking defeat.

Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The surprises in the 2025 National Bank Open continues and No. 3 seeded, Jessica Pegula failed to defend the title in Montreal after facing a 6-3, 4-6, 1-6 defeat against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia in the round of 16 on Friday. The American ace is the two-time champion at National Bank Open but failed to cross the line this year. Pegula hit 63 unforced errors in this clash and faced a shocking defeat.

‼️Down goes the Defending Champion‼️

Anastasija Sevastova upsets Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/IX7QYAUEUj
— wta (@WTA) August 1, 2025

Anastasija Sevastova Ends Pegula’s 11-Match Winning Run in Montreal

Sevastova also ended Pegula’s 11-match winning streak at the WTA Canada, the longest since Serena Williams’s 14-match streak in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Pegula won the opening set 6-3 to take a flourish start to the match and the US star took an early 2-0 lead in the second set. Since then, Pegula lost the momentum and won only three games throughout the match.

The 31-year-old recently faced a first-round exit against eventual winner, Leylah Fernandez in the Citi DC Open. She faced a opening-round elimination the Wimbledon against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. It was Pegula’s third loss in four matches since winning the Bad Homburg Open title after beating the 2025 Wimbledon champion, Iga Swiatek.

Three-peat or four-peat attempts in 2025: 0-8

❌ Aryna Sabalenka, Australian Open
❌ Iga Swiatek, Doha
❌ Taylor Fritz, Delray Beach
❌ Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells
❌ Iga Swiatek, Roland-Garros
❌ Katie Boulter, Nottingham
❌ Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon
❌ Jessica Pegula, Canada
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) August 1, 2025

Sevastova marked her return from maternity leave in February 2024 and secured top-10 victory on hard-court. Talking about her performance, Sevastova said, “Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better. Third set I played really good. Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible.”

Pegula was the first woman to win consecutive Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000. She was the runner-up in the last year’s US Open and an early exit in first two hard-court events would hurt her preparation. “Hasn’t been great to be honest. I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis. At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy. Which I don’t like,” Pegula admitted with blunt honesty during the post-match presentation.

Emma Navarro and Emma Raducanu Crash Out, Swiatek and Keys Advance to Fourth Round

Australian Open champion Madison Keys survived against Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. She dropped the opening set 6-2 but came back and outclassed her fellow country rival to reach the next round. Keys will take on Karolina Muchova, who knocked out Belinda Bencic in three-set thriller. Emma Navarro crashed out from the WTA Canada after losing to Dayana Yastremska 7-5, 6-4.

Anisimova d. Raducanu 6-2 6-1

Amanda gets her first win over Emma.

She came into this matchup 0-2 against her… but she played stunning tennis today.

✅Won 8 of last 9 matches
✅2nd Montreal R16

Keeping that red hot Wimbledon finalist form alive.

🇺🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/J7L5xKqbOw
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 2, 2025

Fifth-seeded and the 2025 Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova dispatched British No.1 Emma Raducanu in straight sets. She will now face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1. Second-seeded Iga Swiatek made into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Eva Lys. The 2025 Wimbledon champion will next face Denmark’s Clara Tauson, who overcame Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0.

Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Anastasija Sevastova

Jessica Pegula

National Bank Opem

Gulshan Sharma

nba

soccer

wnba

A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.