Jessica Pegula falls to Anastasija Sevastova in a major upset at the National Bank Open, as Naomi Osaka advances and Canadian hopes fade in Toronto.
Pegula’s Reign Ends in Stunning Montreal Defeat
Defending champion Jessica Pegula’s title run came to an abrupt end on Friday, August 1, at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The American world No. 4 lost in three sets—3-6, 6-4, 6-1—to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, currently ranked 386th. The upset saw Sevastova break Pegula’s serve six times out of ten chances, a striking statistic that sealed Pegula’s early exit from the WTA 1000 tournament.
Sevastova Shines with Gritty Comeback Performance
The 35-year-old Sevastova, once ranked as high as No. 11 in the world, showcased vintage form on IGA Stadium’s centre court. Coming back from a set down, she turned the match with relentless returns and composure under pressure. Pegula, who had won the tournament twice, continued a disappointing summer after early exits from both Wimbledon and the D.C. Open.
Osaka Powers into Next Round with Dominant Display
Japan’s Naomi Osaka took centre stage shortly after, defeating Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 to book her place in the fourth round. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, served five aces and converted six of nine break points, completing the win in just 72 minutes. She now faces Sevastova in a much-anticipated fourth-round clash.
Young Canadian Mboko Carries National Hopes
Eighteen-year-old Victoria Mboko of Toronto remains Canada’s last hope in Montreal, following her impressive comeback against Czech Marie Bouzkova. Mboko won 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 to reach the fourth round, where she will face top-seeded Coco Gauff on Saturday. Her performance stands out in a tournament that adopted a new 96-player, 12-day format this year.
Canadian Men’s Run Ends as Diallo Falls in Toronto
In Toronto, Canadian men’s singles participation concluded after Gabriel Diallo lost 6-4, 6-2 to second-seeded American Taylor Fritz. Diallo, 23, who had recently won his first ATP title in the Netherlands, couldn’t match Fritz’s consistency and strategic play on the cool Sobeys Stadium court. The Montreal native’s loss followed earlier exits by Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov.
Fritz to Face Lehecka as Men’s Draw Heats Up
With Diallo out, Fritz advances to face Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round. Lehecka had earlier defeated France’s Arthur Fils in three sets. Other notable men’s third-round winners included Frances Tiafoe, Flavio Cobolli, Andrey Rublev, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, as the ATP side of the US$9.19-million tournament intensifies.
Doubles Action Sees Arends & Andreozzi Dominate
In doubles play, the Netherlands’ Sander Arends and Argentina’s Guido Andreozzi dispatched Canada’s wild-card pair Nicolas Arsenault and Justin Boulais with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 win. They will next face another Canadian duo, Liam Draxl and Cleeve Harper, in the upcoming round.
Tournament Continues with High-Stakes Matches Ahead
The National Bank Open continues through Thursday across both Montreal and Toronto, promising marquee matchups as the fields narrow. With high-calibre international competition and emerging Canadian talent, the tournament remains a key stop on the North American hard-court circuit leading to the U.S. Open.
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