Kudermetova stuns Pegula to claim Toray Pan Pacific Open

Eighth seed Veronika Kudermetova won her first title of the season and her second overall on Sunday, defeating world number four Jessica Pegula in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo.

An aggressive Kudermetova wasted no time unleashing powerful shots from the baseline, breaking American Pegula early for a 3-0 lead, but she dropped her own serve in the fifth game, allowing her opponent to tie the first set.

Two untimely double faults from Pegula gave Kudermetova the first set, and the Russian world number 19 increased her intensity in the second set, racing ahead 5-1 before closing out the match with a big serve on her third matchpoint.

It was Kudermetova's second win over Pegula this season, following her quarter-final victory in Madrid, and her fifth win in her last six matches against top-10 opponents. Earlier in the tournament, the 26-year-old defeated world number two Iga Swiatek.

"I'm really happy about my performance today. It's my second title and I'm proud of myself,"said Kudermetova, who previously won a WTA 500 title in Charleston in 2021.

"I prepared myself for a tough match as Jessica is a great player and a great fighter... It's always nice when you win a big tournament."

Pegula reflected on a successful week in which she did not drop a set until the final. "It's always great to give yourself a chance to win the tournament," Pegula said. "I'm definitely still positive about that and the level in some of my matches especially going into Beijing... She played some great tennis and sometimes that's how it goes."

Pegula will not be too disappointed though because her deep run will help her secure a spot in the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico. She will be joining Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina in the season finale, which begins later this month.

SportsLigue