If you thought nothing could surprise us anymore on the WTA Tour, think again — because Jessica Pegula has just rewired the rulebook. The 31-year-old American has completed an achievement that no woman on the WTA Tour has matched since 2001. That’s right — over two decades of history, expectations, and broken records, and Pegula just added her name to the rarefied air.
What she did? She became the first woman since Martina Hingis in 2000 to defend the prestigious National Bank Open (Canada) women’s singles title. In August 2024, Pegula defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in an all-American final, thereby tallying back-to-back championships at that event. Yahoo Sports+3ESPN.com+3Wikipedia+3
Pause for a second. Think about that. In an era of constant parity, new winners, shifting surfaces and styles, Pegula held off challengers, stayed consistent, and repeated. That kind of feat in today’s tour isn’t just rare — it’s almost mythical.
But what makes this so emotionally resonant? Let’s dive in:
First, Pegula’s story is one of quiet persistence. She isn’t one of those overnight sensations who burst into the scene, dominate for a handful of months and vanish. She’s chipped away, learned, grown, and when the moment arrived — she seized it. That alone is moving.
Second, defending a title comes with its own ghosts. Expectations. Pressure. Everyone’s gunning for you. Instead of being fazed, Pegula embraced it. She made her bold statement: “I belong here.” In doing so, she signalled to the tennis world — and to herself — that she’s no longer just contender. She’s champion in control.
Third, the historical resonance: because no one since 2001 has done it. That’s more than a statistical footnote — it’s proof that she’s climbed above the fray. It invites us to ask: could this be the springboard for even bigger titles? Grand Slams? The ultimate elixir of the sport?
And here’s a cheeky twist: while many lament that tennis is too unpredictable, that past-champions fall like dominoes, Pegula reminds us that legacy isn’t just for the flashiest names. It’s for those who stay the course.
So yes, when you read that headline — you might roll your eyes and think “oh another record” — but this one deserves the roar. Because for Jessica Pegula, this isn’t just a trophy. It’s vindication. It’s legacy. It’s her marker in tennis history.
If you’ve ever loved tennis for its stories — for the struggles, the comebacks, the moments when a player simply breaks through — this is one of them. Jessica Pegula didn’t just win. She repeated, she defended, she etched her name in a chapter that had been blank for 24 years.
So when she walks on court next, watch closely. Because who knows? She might just rewrite another piece of history — and this time the margin might be even bigger.
