Jessica Pegula stands on the brink of tennis history. Three straight Canadian Open titles would put her in rarified air, but standing between her and that milestone is Greece’s Maria Sakkari–a player who’s struggled all season but showed flashes of brilliance just weeks ago. When champions face desperation, anything can happen.
Can Jessica Pegula Complete Her Historic Three-Peat in Montreal?
Pegula entered the tournament as the third seed and received a direct entry into the second round, where she faces Sakkari. The American has enjoyed a solid season so far, highlighted by multiple deep runs and victories. Notably, Pegula has clinched three titles, each on a different surface, at the ATX Open, Charleston Open, and Bad Homburg Open. In addition, she finished as runner-up in Adelaide at the start of the year, and in Miami, while also reaching the quarterfinals in Doha and Stuttgart, and advancing to the fourth round at Roland Garros.
However, the 31-year-old’s recent form raises questions. She kicked off her North American hard-court swing at the Mubadala DC Citi Open as the top seed, earning a direct entry into the second round. But to the shock of many, she was defeated by eventual champion Leylah Fernandez in the second round. Despite this setback, Pegula remains focused on making an impact in Montreal, where she is the two-time defending champion.
Meanwhile, Sakkari has struggled to live up to her potential in the 2024-25 season and remains without a title. The Greek’s best results this season include quarterfinal appearances at the Linz Open and the Citi Open, along with fourth-round finishes in Adelaide and Madrid. She last competed at the Citi DC Open and impressed by defeating Katie Boulter and shocking Emma Navarro before falling to Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals.
What Does the Head-to-Head History Tell Us About This Matchup?
Pegula and Sakkari’s on-court rivalry spans 11 matches, with the head-to-head narrowly tilted in the American’s favor. Pegula currently leads 6-5 and won their most recent encounter in Adelaide earlier this year.
Match Details
- Fixture: Jessica Pegula vs Maria Sakkari
- Date: July 30, 2025
- Tournament: Canadian Open (Omnium Banque Nationale présenté par Rogers)
- Round: Round of 64
- Venue: IGA Stadium, Montreal, Canada
- Category: WTA 1000
- Surface: Outdoor hard courts
- Live telecast: USA – Tennis Channel, TC Plus| UK – Sky Sports | Canada – Sportsnet, TVA
Also Read: Jessica Pegula Gives Her Honest Take on Canadian Open’s Format Expansion Amid Scheduling Controversy
Who Has the Edge: Pegula’s Experience or Sakkari’s Desperation?
Given her history at the event and current form, Pegula enters the tournament as one of the favorites. Seeded third and performing more consistently than Sakkari, she carries a psychological edge heading into their clash.
The American, who holds a solid 35-14 win-loss record this season, has been particularly effective on serve. In 2024-25, she won 67.7 percent of her first-serve points and nearly 75 percent of her service games. In fact, her hard-court win rate also stands at 67.59 percent, her best across all surfaces.
Told me I couldn’t, so I did! 😤👏@JPegula defends her title in Canada after defeating Anisimova in a three set thriller! #NBO24 pic.twitter.com/bLMVmfuP6e
— wta (@WTA) August 12, 2024
Sakkari also leans heavily on her serve, winning 65 percent of her first-serve points and nearly 69 percent of her service games. However, those numbers still fall short of Pegula’s. Her performance on hard courts has also been below par, with a win rate of just 59 percent, well behind Pegula’s. Overall, Sakkari’s season has been disappointing, reflected in her 18-21 win-loss record.
Pegula’s advantage is further strengthened by her winning three of her last four meetings against Sakkari. Thus, with a superior overall record, the American appears well-positioned to progress.
Pick: Pegula to win in straight sets
