Jessica Pegula has explained her recent slide in form following a disappointing title defense at the 2025 National Bank Open. After a third-round loss in Montréal, the American tennis star confessed she hasn’t been at her best lately and described her recent performance as “sloppy” and emotionally infuriating.
Pegula spoke candidly about the internal struggle she’s experiencing during this trying part of the season.
Title Defense Fails as Jessica Pegula Faces Latest Inconsistency
Going into the tournament, Pegula was the two-time defending champion and third seed in the draw. Having received a first-round bye, she started her campaign in a straight-sets win against Maria Sakkari. However, things turned sharply in the third round, where she lost to Anastasija Sevastova in a 6-3, 4-6, 1-6 defeat.
Huge upset in Montreal 👀
Anastasija Sevastova defeats defending champion Jessica Pegula to advance at #OBN25 😮 pic.twitter.com/Ub0zWRXbfn
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 1, 2025
Her doubles campaign with fellow countrywoman Madison Keys fared no better, with the pair losing their first match to Markéta Vondroušová and Peyton Stearns. This recent loss of form is surprising for a player gaining momentum throughout the first few months of 2025.
During the post-match press conference after losing to Sevastova, Pegula was questioned on how she intends to rebuild with the US Open looming.
“Yeah, it hasn’t been great, to be honest,” she said. “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. It really bothers me. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so I don’t like having to say that.”
Following her title wins earlier this year in Charleston, Austin, and Bad Homburg and final appearances in Miami and Adelaide, the 31-year-old was rated one of the tour’s most consistent players. However, since winning that title in Bad Homburg, she faced early losses at Wimbledon and the Citi DC Open.
“I feel like I’ve gone through phases in my career, a few tournaments, where I feel like that sometimes, and you have to figure out how to get out of it and not feel sorry for yourself or make excuses,” she said. “I’ve got to figure it out.”
With the US Open fast approaching, Pegula prioritized remaining alert in the moment.
“You have to do it in those moments in matches where you’re in that moment where you have to compete and figure things out,” she explained. “I don’t think I’ve been able to do it great the last couple of matches.”
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